non-European

adjective

non-Eu·​ro·​pe·​an ˌnän-ˌyu̇r-ə-ˈpē-ən How to pronounce non-European (audio)
-ˈpēn
: not of, relating to, or characteristic of Europe or its people : not European
non-European languages/populations
non-European noun
met many non-Europeans during her travels

Examples of non-European 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.
Taiwan is getting a dedicated national focus at the International Classic Film Market (MIFC), the industry arm of Lyon’s Lumière Festival, the first for a non-European country, according to the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI). — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 Oglala Lakota runner Billy Mills was the first non-European to win Olympic gold in the 10-kilometer run with his upset, Olympic-record race at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 The country’s current immigration policies are controlled by people who believe that the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which ended exclusionary quotas against non-European immigrants including South Asians, needs to be rolled back. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 Israel has taken part in Eurovision since 1973, one of a few non-European countries to compete. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for non-European

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of non-European was in 1842

Rhymes for non-European

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Browse Nearby Words

non-euclidean
non-European
nonevaluative
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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