Italian

1 of 2

noun

Ital·​ian ə-ˈtal-yən How to pronounce Italian (audio)
i-,
also
ˌī- How to pronounce Italian (audio)
1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Italy
b
: a person of Italian descent
2
: the Romance language of the Italians

Italian

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Italy, the Italians, or Italian

Examples of Italian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In the posh Belgravia area of London, a six-bedroom residence that once served as the Italian Embassy has hit the market for the first time in more than a century. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2024 Walk into Scotti’s Italian Restaurant on a weekday afternoon – and day will suddenly turn to night. Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2024 Dozens of chain restaurants are closing their doors More than 40 locations of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s will permanently close due to slowing sales. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024 The company, on an earnings call, surprised investors with news of the permanent closures of select Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming’s locations. Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 The Italian has more than 30 years of experience in ocean racing, competing in both solo and crewed events. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2024 Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, 12080 S. Strang Line Road, Olathe, had seven violations during a Jan. 17 routine inspection. Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024 Turkey’s first astronaut along with a Swede and Italian launched Thursday to the International Space Station on a chartered SpaceX flight. Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2024 According to a press release from the Italian Ministry of Culture, two Greek temples in the Doric style were discovered in the western area of ​​the ancient city of Poseidonia Paestum in Italy. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 18 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Two new 500e models with unconventional names were unveiled this week in connection with a climate conference in Miami, and both are focused on the Stellantis brand’s Italian sensibility. Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024 The panel discussed the lush Italian setting, the cinematography and the costumes. Michael Schneider, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 The addition of chicken and other meats, and the breadcrumb coating, were Italian American adaptations, which took the dish in a new direction: heftier, not as light as the original parmigiana. Yotam Ottolenghi, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Azimut’s Fly range, which spans from 50 to 78 feet, has long been the go-to style for yacht owners who are particular about sleek Italian aesthetics but want plenty of onboard space. Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024 It’s infused with a blend of Italian peppers, which impart a light heat that won’t char your palate—but will certainly wake up any otherwise bland dishes on the menu. Sara Coughlin, SELF, 13 Mar. 2024 So, why not adopt the Italian mindset and embrace a leisurely approach to traveling here this year? Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024 The Italian entity bills itself as a provider of luxury exotic leathers on its website. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 Chinese users assailed Dolce & Gabbana in 2018 for an advertisement featuring a Chinese woman eating Italian food with chopsticks; the fashion brand is still dealing with the repercussions today. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Italian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Italian was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near Italian

Cite this Entry

“Italian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Italian. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Italian

noun
Ital·​ian
ə-ˈtal-yən,
i-
1
a
: a person born or living in Italy
b
: a person of Italian ancestry
2
: the Romance language of the Italians
Italian adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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