British

[ brit-ish ]

adjective

1. of or relating to Great Britain or its inhabitants.
2. used especially by natives or inhabitants of Great Britain:

   In this dictionary, “Brit.” is an abbreviation for “British usage.”

noun

1. the people native to or inhabiting Great Britain.
2. British English.
3. the Celtic language of the ancient Britons.

British

/ ˈbrɪtɪʃ /

adjective

1. relating to, denoting, or characteristic of Britain or any of the natives, citizens, or inhabitants of the United Kingdom
2. See Received Pronunciation, Southern British English
   relating to or denoting the English language as spoken and written in Britain, esp the S dialect generally regarded as standard See also Southern British English Received Pronunciation
3. relating to or denoting the ancient Britons
4. of or relating to the Commonwealth

   British subjects

noun

1. functioning as plural the natives or inhabitants of Britain
2. See Brythonic
   the extinct Celtic language of the ancient Britons See also Brythonic

Derived Forms

• ˈBritishness, noun

Other Words From

• British·ly adverb
• British·ness noun
• anti-British adjective noun
• non-British adjective
• pre-British adjective
• pro-British adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of British¹

before 900; Middle English Brittische, Old English Bryttisc, equivalent to Brytt ( as ) Britons + -isc- -ish ¹; Briton

Example Sentences

Andrew still plans to fly to Davos in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum on January 21, representing the British government.

From The Daily Beast

It is the steady accretion of detail that may yet be the most damaging factor in the battle for British hearts and minds.

From The Daily Beast

But I had won the British Award, Best Foreign Actor, so I went.

From The Daily Beast

Jourdan Dunn is the first sole black woman to feature on a British ‘Vogue’ cover in 12 years.

From The Daily Beast

When it was announced that Jourdan Dunn would be the first black model to cover British Vogue in twelve years it made me sad.

From The Daily Beast

Sweden excluded British goods, conformably to the continental system established by Bonaparte.

From Project Gutenberg

Behold a dumpy, comfortable British paterfamilias in a light flannel suit and a faded sun hat.

From Project Gutenberg

Many British Ferns evidence a marked tendency to “sport,” and this is a fact which the beginner should always bear in mind.

From Project Gutenberg

The parliament house and library of the British provinces, at Montreal, burned by a mob.

From Project Gutenberg

Where the outside conditions are not very favourable, practically all the British species may be grown with ease under glass.

From Project Gutenberg