What does "african" mean?
A native of Africa; also one ethnologically belonging to an African race.
African
/ˈæf.ɹɪ.kən/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A native of Africa; also one ethnologically belonging to an African race.
- Grammar: african is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: african continent, african descendant, african inhabitant, african national.
- Useful contrasts: non African.
- Usage evidence: When you watch television or listen to the radio, the music which you hear is often African in origin.
How to use "african"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "african" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "african" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "african" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "african" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "african" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "african continent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "african", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A native of Africa; also one ethnologically belonging to an African race.
"Africans constitute significantly growing populations not only in major urban centers such as New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and Atlanta but also in small and midsize cities in states such as Ohio and Maine."
- 2 a native or inhabitant of Africa wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of or pertaining to Africa.
"Spain’s Melilla, one of two small exclaves of EU land on the African continent, has long been the strongest distillation of fortress Europe."
- 2 Black; (dated, offensive) synonym of negroid.
"The truth is that I know the guy had African skin and a shirt of some sort."
Adjective
- 1 of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
non African
Example
"When you watch television or listen to the radio, the music which you hear is often African in origin."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "african"?
Common synonyms include: african continent, african descendant, african inhabitant, african national, african person, afrikander.
How do you use "african" in a sentence?
When you watch television or listen to the radio, the music which you hear is often African in origin.
How do you pronounce "african"?
Pronounced /ˈæf.ɹɪ.kən/.
Etymology
Attested as a noun in early New English Aphricane, Africans (plural), Middle English as Affrican, Aufrican and Old English as Africanas (“Africans”) (only plural). From Latin āfricānae, from āfricānus, from Āfricus. The adjective appears in the 16th century, as Affricane, Africane, African. Latin Āfricus is from Āfri (singular Āfer), the name of an ancient people of North Africa (near Carthage, in Tunisia), with the suffix -icus. āfricānus is formed by addition of the -ānus suffix. By surface analysis, Africa + -an.