Celtic

American  

[kel-tik, sel-] / ˈkɛl tɪk, ˈsɛl- /

Also Keltic

noun

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

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

Etymology

Origin of Celtic

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin Celticus, equivalent to Celt(ae) “the Celts” + -icus adjective suffix; 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

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel may have played his "last football game" with surgery required on his shoulder but he is eager to "fight" to regain fitness.

From BBC

With all this in mind, comparisons between a group of seven teenagers with a drum in Alloa and the large, well-resourced groups associated with Celtic or Rangers are difficult.

From BBC

The same three clubs were in the mix in the 1997-98 campaign, with Celtic eventually triumphing after Hearts fell away.

From BBC

Speaking to Radio 5 Live, former Premier League goalkeeper Rob Green said Redknapp's return to Spurs would be even more "left-field" than O'Neill's appointment at Celtic Park.

From BBC

The truth is most Irish people had never heard the term Irish exit until recently, says Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald at the School of Irish, Celtic Studies, and Folklore at University College Dublin.

From The Wall Street Journal