Russian

noun

Rus·​sian ˈrə-shən How to pronounce Russian (audio)
1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Russia
b
: a member of the dominant Slavic-speaking ethnic group of Russia
c
: a person of Russian descent
2
: a Slavic language of the Russian people spoken as a second language by many non-Russian ethnic groups of the Soviet Union and its successor states
Russian adjective
Russianness noun

Examples of Russian 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.
But, other wines like Spanish Garnacha, Primitivo from Puglia, Rhône reds or even some of the richer Russian River Pinot Noirs work as well. Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email. Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025 The duo welcomed the SpaceX crew, which consisted of NASA’s Nick Hague and the Russian Space Agency’s Alexander Gorbunov, to the ISS on Sept. 30. Jillian Frankel, People.com, 6 June 2025 Ukraine is the apple of Putin’s eye, Trump said, and the Russian would like to control the entire country. Bart Jansen, USA Today, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for Russian

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of Russian was in 1538

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Cite this Entry

“Russian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Russian. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

Russian

noun
Rus·​sian ˈrəsh-ən How to pronounce Russian (audio)
1
: a person born or living in Russia
2
: a Slavic language of the Russian people
Russian adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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