: of or relating to a strict sect of Mennonites who were followers of Amman and settled in America chiefly in the 18th century
Amish noun

Examples of Amish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Seven victims of the crash were members of the Amish community in Virginia and were visiting family in Wisconsin. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024 In 2014, when an outbreak of nearly 400 cases took hold in Ohio, almost entirely within the Amish community, the local vaccination rate was estimated to be about 14 percent. Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024 Seven of those in the van were members of an Amish community in Virginia, the Sentinel reported. Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Nearly all the victims in the van were from an Amish community in rural Burke’s Garden, Virginia, FOX9 Minneapolis reported. Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 11 Mar. 2024 Many Amish and Mennonite families do not send their children to private or public high schools. Rachel Fradette, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Jan. 2024 Shawn Cranston, 52, was charged with the murder of Rebekah A. Byler on March 2 A suspect has been arrested in the murder of a 23-year-old pregnant Amish woman. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024 There are about 400,000 Amish living across settlements in 32 states, Canada and Bolivia – Pennsylvania has one of the highest concentrations of the Mennonite sect, according to the news agency. Christina Coulter, Fox News, 1 Mar. 2024 Police opened an investigation into the killing of Rebekah A. Byler, a pregnant Amish woman who was found dead in her rural Pennsylvania home this week, rocking the small community. Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Amish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German amisch, from Jacob Amman died before 1730 Swiss Mennonite elder + -isch -ish

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Amish was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near Amish

Cite this Entry

“Amish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Amish. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Amish

adjective
: of or relating to the Mennonites who were followers of Amman and settled in America
Amish noun
Etymology

probably from German amisch, from Jacob Amman or Amen, flourished 1693–97, Swiss Mennonite bishop

More from Merriam-Webster on Amish

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!