Nigerian

adjective

Ni·​ge·​ri·​an nī-ˈjir-ē-ən How to pronounce Nigerian (audio)
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Nigeria or its people
Nigerian noun
plural Nigerians

Examples of Nigerian 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.
The lyricist also touched on the impact of Houston, Texas, and his Nigerian heritage, and on his hope that The Bridge would serve as a conduit between those worlds and cultures. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 24 June 2026 Shifters follows Dre, a Brit of Nigerian heritage who comes from a council estate, and Des, the middle-class daughter of a neurologist. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 June 2026 This year, Hurtt offered a strong endorsement for 6-foot-4, 306-pound Nigerian defensive lineman Uar Bernard from the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 24 June 2026 This poignant story follows a young Nigerian woman, Eve, navigating the obstacles that come with the grief of losing her husband. — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026 The son of Nigerian parents born in New York but raised in England was something of a free agent, and even after playing for the US Under-18 team, could have gone into the international soccer version of the transfer portal. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 June 2026 Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents, but raised in London, Balogun came through the prestigious Arsenal academy. — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Nigerian was in 1876

Rhymes for Nigerian

See All Rhymes for Nigerian

Browse Nearby Words

Nigeria
Nigerian
Nigerien
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nigerian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Nigerian. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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