Anatolian

noun

An·​a·​to·​lian ˌa-nə-ˈtō-lē-ən How to pronounce Anatolian (audio)
-ˈtōl-yən
1
: a native or inhabitant of Anatolia and specifically of the western plateau lands of Turkey in Asia
2
: a branch of the Indo-European language family that includes a group of extinct languages of ancient Anatolia see Indo-European Languages Table
Anatolian adjective

Examples of Anatolian 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.
One striking finding was a hard sweep on a region of chromosome 6 called major histocompatibility complex class III, or MHC III, in ancient Anatolians. Kermit Pattison, Scientific American, 20 May 2025 With two key fault lines in its vicinity – the North Anatolian and the East Anatolian – Turkey is one of the most seismically active regions in the world, a reality that has amplified concern over Istanbul’s earthquake preparedness. Gul Tuysuz and Nadeen Ebrahim Cnn, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025 Scotty Dunton, who was identified as the rancher, according to KPNX, said that his dog Buford, an Anatolian Pyrenees, had discovered the child while guarding his property. David Chiu, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025 Buford, an Anatolian Pyrenees, remained at Boden's side, garnering Dunton's attention. Megan Forrester, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2025 Buford is an Anatolian Pyrenees, which are noted for their size and tender nature. Alana Wise, NPR, 16 Apr. 2025 Mountains were formed by the collision of three tectonic plates: Arabic, Eurasian, and Anatolian. Kurt Johnson, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2024 Per Anatolian Archaeology, ancient rock tombs found in Şanlıurfa usually date to the late Hittite and Roman periods. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2025 Prior to this study, the only branch of Indo-European-speaking populations that were not proven to share in steppe ancestry were those speaking Anatolian, which includes the Hittites. Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Anatolian was in 1590

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anatolian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Anatolian. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!