North America vs American

North America and American both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
North America	Yes	No	No	No
American	Yes	Yes	No	No

North America (noun)	American (noun)
the nations of the North American continent collectively	the English language as used in the United States
a continent (the third largest) in the western hemisphere connected to South America by the Isthmus of Panama	a native or inhabitant of the United States
	a native or inhabitant of a North American or Central American or South American country

North America (adjective)	American (adjective)
	of or relating to or characteristic of the continents and islands of the Americas
	of or relating to the United States of America or its people or language or culture