Word
americana
Phoneticsamer·i·cana
/əˌmɛɹəˈkænə/
Definition
n. things that are typical of American culture, history, or life. It often refers to objects like old signs, music, or clothes that feel very American.
n. artifacts, documents, or cultural items related to the history, geography, folklore, and cultural heritage of the United States. Often refers to objects with nostalgic or aesthetic value.
Examples
“The diner was decorated with classic Americana.”
“His collection of Americana includes vintage baseball cards, old neon signs, and original folk music recordings.”
“The film captures a specific slice of mid-century Americana, portraying the rise of the suburban middle class through the lens of backyard barbecues and chrome-heavy automobiles.”
Examples
simple
“The diner was decorated with classic Americana.”
contextual
“His collection of Americana includes vintage baseball cards, old neon signs, and original folk music recordings.”
complex
“The film captures a specific slice of mid-century Americana, portraying the rise of the suburban middle class through the lens of backyard barbecues and chrome-heavy automobiles.”
Usage
Typically treated as a collective noun; it does not take a plural form.
Etymology
From America + -ana.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/americana