African American
noun
variants
or less commonly African-American
plural African Americans also African-Americans
: an American of African and especially of Black African descent
often, specifically
: a direct descendant of Africans who were enslaved in the U.S. or in any area that became part of the U.S.
African American
adjective
or less commonly African-American
Cite this Entry
“African American.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/African%20American. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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