Ghanaian

adjective

Gha·​na·​ian gä-ˈnā-ən How to pronounce Ghanaian (audio)
ga-, 
-ˈnī-ən
variants or less commonly Ghanian
ˈgä-nē-ən How to pronounce Ghanaian (audio)
ˈga-, 
-nyən
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Ghana or its people
Ghanaian noun
or less commonly Ghanian
plural Ghanaians also Ghanian

Examples of Ghanaian 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.
Kpodo, an architect, will exhibit work that addresses modernism, turning the focus away from tropical modernism centered on concrete buildings, which were often built by foreigners in Ghanaian cities. — Gameli Hamelo, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Still, the Ghanaian British actress maintains a lot of empathy for her character, identifying her self-destructive patterns as a wounded cry for help. — Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2026 But Paulina’s big plans are upended by the arrival at the school of Ericka (Jasmine Amy Rogers), a light-skinned Black girl from America with a Ghanaian father and a white mother back in Ohio. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 29 Sep. 2026 No harsh chemicals for her, much to the amazement and envy of her Ghanaian classmates. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Ghanaian

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Ghanaian was in 1957

Rhymes for Ghanaian

See All Rhymes for Ghanaian

Browse Nearby Words

Ghana
Ghanaian
Ghanese
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ghanaian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ghanaian. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Geographical Definition

Ghana

geographical name

Gha·​na ˈgä-nə How to pronounce Ghana (audio)
ˈga-
1
or Gana ancient empire of western Africa in what is now western Mali; flourished in the 4th–13th centuries
2
country of western Africa bordering on the Gulf of Guinea; a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations; capital Accra area 92,098 square miles (238,533 square kilometers)

Note: Ghana was formerly a British territory called the Gold Coast, which comprised the Gold Coast Colony, Ashanti, the Northern Territories, and British Togoland trust territory. It gained its independence in 1957.

Ghanaian
gä-ˈnā-ən How to pronounce Ghana (audio)
ga-, 
-ˈnī-ən
adjective or noun
Ghanian
ˈgä-nē-ən How to pronounce Ghana (audio)
ˈga-, 
-nyən
adjective or noun
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