Ethiopian

1 of 2

noun

Ethi·​o·​pi·​an ˌē-thē-ˈō-pē-ən How to pronounce Ethiopian (audio)
1
: a native or inhabitant of Ethiopia
2
: a member of any of the mythical or actual peoples usually described by the ancient Greeks as dark-skinned and living far to the south
3
archaic : a Black person

Ethiopian

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the inhabitants or the country of Ethiopia
2
: of, relating to, or being the biogeographic region that includes Africa south of the Sahara, southern Arabia, and sometimes Madagascar and the adjacent islands

Examples of Ethiopian 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.
Adjective
It has been written and directed by Ethiopian student Kokob Gebrehaweria Tesfay from SRFTI. Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025 Tesfaye is the only child of Ethiopian immigrants, and both the tower at the center of the stage and his robe play into his cultural iconography. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 16 May 2025 In this historical context, the attire worn by Black soldiers in the Ethiopian Regiment was not simply about adhering to uniform requirements. Time, 5 May 2025 Last year, the authorities in Mogadishu refused entry to a plane carrying Ethiopian officials amid tensions over a port deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia. Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Ethiopian

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Ethiopian was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Ethiopian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ethiopian. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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