a native or inhabitant of Europe
"The european traveler explored ancient ruins across the continent."
person living or originating from Europe
"The european traveler explored ancient ruins in Athens before flying home to London."
In plain English: A European is someone who lives on the continent of Europe.
"The European traveled to London for his summer vacation."
Related to Europe or the European Union.
"The european policies implemented by the new government aimed to strengthen trade ties across the continent and within the union."
In plain English: European means something that comes from, is related to, or happens on the continent of Europe.
"The European team won the tournament last night."
The word "european" comes from the French Européen and Latin europaeus, which were originally derived from the Ancient Greek term for a person from Europe. While it can be seen as a combination of "Europe" and the suffix "-an," its roots trace back to that ancient Greek word.