European

1 of 2

adjective

Eu·​ro·​pe·​an ˌyu̇r-ə-ˈpē-ən 

-ˈpēn

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Europe or its people

Europeanness noun

European

2 of 2

noun

1

: a native or inhabitant of Europe

2

: a person of European descent

Examples of European in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In 2021, General Mills sold the European operations of Yoplait to Sodiaal. —Reuters, CNN, 12 Sep. 2024

Earlier this year, Lipa headlined Glastonbury and several other European festivals, Mad Cool and NOS Alive among them. —Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 12 Sep. 2024

Noun

Former European Central Bank head Mario Draghi’s report on Europe’s competitiveness calls for €800 billion in annual innovation investment, mostly from private venture capital. —Jon Helgi Egilsson, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024

Pawel Libera | The Image Bank | Getty Images LONDON — European stocks were higher on Friday as investors continue to digest the European Central Bank’s decision to cut rates and its impact on future monetary policy. —Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1555, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing European

• European American
• European bison
• European chafer
• European corn borer
• European flat
• European flat oyster
• European hornet
• European mountain ash
• European oyster
• European plan
• European red mite
• Indo-European
• Indo-European languages
• non-European
• non-Indo-European
• smaller European elm bark beetle
• un-European

Kids Definition

European

1 of 2 adjective

Eu·​ro·​pe·​an ˌyu̇r-ə-ˈpē-ən 

: of or relating to Europe or its people

European

2 of 2 noun

1

: a person born or living in Europe

2

: a person of European ancestry