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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Just a short stroll away, Lupo Italian Ristorante evokes the spirit of an Italian street market with its chic interiors and mosaic tiles. Taryn White, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025 Everyday Italian premiered in 2003 and ran for 12 seasons. Erin Clements, People.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
The actor previously shared a carousel of photos from a recent Italian getaway on Instagram on Wednesday, July 16. Bailey Richards, People.com, 19 July 2025 Although most tourists wear sneakers when visiting the area, Como is still an upscale Italian village, so wearing nice shoes to lunch and dinner is always a good idea. Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for Italian

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Italian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Italian. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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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