American
/əˈmɛrɪkən/noun
Relating to the United States or the Americas.
Did you know?“American” comes from the Latinized name of explorer Amerigo Vespucci, and by the 16th century it was already being used to label an entirely new continent — a naming act that helped shape modern geopolitical identity.
Etymological Timeline
1507
Latin
Americus
“Latinized form of Amerigo, the personal name of Amerigo Vespucci”
1507
Latin
America
“Name proposed for the newly recognized lands of the Western Hemisphere”
16th Century
Latin/English
Americanus
“Pertaining to America or its inhabitants”
17th Century
English
American
“A person from America; later especially a person from the United States”
Modern English
English
American
“Relating to the United States or the Americas”