all-american: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “all-american” mean?
Representing the ideal qualities, standards, or achievements associated with the United States.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Representing the ideal qualities, standards, or achievements associated with the United States.
Used as an adjective to describe something or someone embodying traditional US values (e.g., wholesomeness, success, patriotism) or selected as the best in national competition. Also functions as a noun for a person selected for a national sports team.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Overwhelmingly an American cultural term. In British English, it is understood but rarely used except in specific contexts (e.g., discussing US sports or culture). No direct British equivalent exists.
Connotations
In AmE: positive, connoting excellence, tradition, and national pride. In BrE: often perceived as a specifically US cultural label without inherent positive/negative judgment, sometimes with a slight exoticism.
Frequency
Very high frequency in AmE, particularly in sports media and cultural discourse. Very low frequency in BrE.
Grammar
How to Use “all-american” in a Sentence
[be] + all-american + noun (He's an all-American quarterback)[Noun] + is + all-american (Her story is pure all-American)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “all-american” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The film presented a somewhat mythologised, all-American vision of the 1950s.
American English
- He had the all-American looks of a Hollywood star from a bygone era.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might be used in marketing to emphasize a product's 'made-in-America' or traditional quality.
Academic
Used in cultural studies, sociology, or American studies to discuss national identity and stereotypes.
Everyday
Common in conversations about sports achievements or describing someone with conventionally wholesome qualities.
Technical
In US college sports, a precise term for athletes chosen for official national honorary teams.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “all-american”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “all-american”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “all-american”
- Using it to mean 'from all parts of America' (geographic) rather than 'embodying American ideals'. Writing it without the hyphen ('all american').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used ironically or critically to highlight clichés or excessive conformity to traditional ideals.
Yes, it can describe stories, images, brands, or lifestyles perceived as embodying classic American values (e.g., 'an all-American success story').
'All-America' (often capitalized) is the official title for the national sports selection (e.g., 'He made the All-America team'). 'All-American' is the adjective or noun form for someone/something with that status or qualities.
Not directly equivalent. Some have national honors (e.g., 'All-Star'), but 'all-American' carries unique cultural weight tied to the specific concept of 'American-ness'.
Representing the ideal qualities, standards, or achievements associated with the United States.
All-american is usually informal to neutral in register.
All-american: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɔːl əˈmer.ɪ.kən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɑːl əˈmer.ɪ.kən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[He/She] is as all-American as apple pie.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the US flag (ALL the stars) + Uncle Sam's hat (AMERICAN) = representing the whole country's ideal.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE NATION IS A PERSON (with ideal qualities).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'all-American' LEAST likely to be used?