[AzJohn]

John, the very definition you posted contradicts this statement of yours.

Not at all. In the definition I posted meaning #3 is "a citizen of the U.S.". That's the sense in which most on the thread have used the word "American".

[ClintonBeGone]

That's the sense in which most on the thread have used the word "American".

But that doesn't mean #2 is wrong.