Celtic

American  

[kel-tik, sel-] / ˈkɛl tɪk, ˈsɛl- /

Also Keltic

noun

Celtics plural

1. a branch of the Indo-European family of languages, including especially Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, and Breton, which survive now in Ireland, the Scottish Highlands, Wales, and Brittany. Celt, Celt.

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adjective

1. of the Celts or their languages.

Celtic British  

/ ˈsɛl-, ˈsɛl-, ˈkɛltɪk, ˈkɛltɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. a branch of the Indo-European family of languages that includes Gaelic, Welsh, and Breton, still spoken in parts of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Brittany. Modern Celtic is divided into the Brythonic (southern) and Goidelic (northern) groups

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Celts or the Celtic languages

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Celticism
  noun
• Celticist
  noun
• non-Celtic
  adjective
• pre-Celtic
  adjective
• Celtically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Celtics
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Celtic

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin Celticus, equivalent to Celt(ae) “the Celts” + -icus adjective suffix; see origin at Celt, -ic ( def. 1 )

Compare meaning

How does celtic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Gaelic vs. Celtic

Example Sentences

Jens Berthel Askou had also been linked with Celtic before leaving Motherwell for Toulouse but it is O'Neill who will lead Celtic into the 2026-27 season.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

So much of the grief around Celtic begins with their recruitment.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Ending up with Adamu and Mvuka in January, and Balikwisha and others before that, should be a line in the sand for Celtic.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

McGinn spent day and night dreaming of becoming Celtic great Henrik Larsson on that red ash pitch.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

She’d chosen an ancient Celtic design she’d seen in a book from the library.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray