What does "european" mean?
A person living or originating from Europe.
European
/ˌjʊɹ.əˈpi.ən/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person living or originating from Europe.
- Grammar: european is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: caucasians, continental, danish label, danish number.
- Useful contrasts: asiatic, foreign, non European.
- Usage evidence: In summer, European people enjoy long holidays.
How to use "european"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "european" 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 "european" 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 "european" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "european" 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 "european" 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 "caucasians" 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 "european", 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 person living or originating from Europe.
"Until the close of the early modern era, Western Europeans on most evenings experienced two major intervals of sleep bridged by up to an hour or more of quiet wakefulness. […] The initial interval of slumber was usually referred to as “first sleep,” or, less often, “first nap” or “dead sleep.”"
- 2 a native or inhabitant of Europe wordnet
- 3 A person who resides within the European Union.
Adjective
- 1 Related to Europe.
"By the time this mysterious knight died in the 1360s, his book was available in every European language, including Dutch, Gaelic, Czech, Catalan, and Walloon."
- 2 Related to the European Union.
- 3 Of white ethnicity.
"Stamps like this were common on furniture made in Australia in the first half of last century, when there were a number of Chinese furniture makers in Australia who were seen as competition to 'European Australian' makers."
- 4 That can be exercised only at the expiry date. not-comparable
"All of these trade on the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Most of the contracts are European. An exception is the OEX contract on the S&P 100, which is American."
Adjective
- 1 of or relating to or characteristic of Europe or the people of Europe wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"In summer, European people enjoy long holidays."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "european"?
Common synonyms include: caucasians, continental, danish label, danish number, dutch entities, europan.
How do you use "european" in a sentence?
In summer, European people enjoy long holidays.
How do you pronounce "european"?
Pronounced /ˌjʊɹ.əˈpi.ən/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French Européen, via Latin europaeus, ultimately from Ancient Greek Εὐρωπαῖος (Eurōpaîos, “European”). By surface analysis, Europe + -an.