un-American

adjective

un-Amer·​i·​can ˌən-ə-ˈmer-ə-kən How to pronounce un-American (audio)
: not American : not characteristic of or consistent with American customs, principles, or traditions

Examples of un-American 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.
Republican leaders have called some of their messages hateful and un-American. ABC News, 19 Oct. 2025 Speaker Mike Johnson recently called protesting—one of the most American acts imaginable—un-American. Alexis Coe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025 O'Donnell took further issue with her feeling that Hasselbeck didn't defend her against suppositions that O'Donnell was un-American for her opposition to military advances. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Oct. 2025 In fact, this halftime show pushes back on the idea that speaking Spanish is un-American. Raquel Reichard, Refinery29, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for un-American

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of un-American was in 1818

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Un-American.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/un-American. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

un-American

adjective
un-Amer·​i·​can
ˌən-ə-ˈmer-ə-kən
: not American
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!