English

American  

[ing-glish, -lish] / ˈɪŋ glɪʃ, -lɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of England or its inhabitants, institutions, etc.

2. belonging or relating to, or spoken or written in, the English language.

   a high school English class;

   an English translation of a Spanish novel.

3. of or relating to a person or thing that is not Amish, generally used by Amish people in Anglophone North America.

   The Amish rarely celebrate English holidays like Labor Day.

   He fixed a rabbit hutch for his English neighbor.

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noun

1. (used with a plural verb) the people of England collectively, especially as distinguished from the Scots, Welsh, and Irish.

2. the Germanic language of England, widespread and standard also in the United States, Canada, and other countries colonized or settled by England, historically termed Old English (c450–c1150), Middle English (c1150–c1475), and Modern English (after c1475). E

3. English language, composition, and literature as offered as a course of study in school.

4. a specific variety of the English language, as that of a particular time, place, or person.

   Shakespearean English;

   American English.

5. simple, straightforward language.

   What does all that jargon mean in English?

6. Sports.

   1. a spinning motion imparted to a ball, especially in billiards.

   2. body English.

7. Printing. a 14-point type of a size between pica and Columbian.

8. a grade of calendered paper having a smooth matte finish.

9. (used with a plural verb) people who are not Amish, generally used by Amish people in Anglophone North America.

   More Amish than English live in this county.

verb (used with object)

1. to translate into English.

   to English Euripides.

2. to adopt (a foreign word) into English; Anglicize.

3. (sometimes lowercase) to impart spin to (a ball).

English British  

/ ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ /

noun

1. the official language of Britain, the US, most parts of the Commonwealth, and certain other countries. It is the native language of over 280 million people and is acquired as a second language by many more. It is an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch See also Middle English Old English Modern English

2. (functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of England collectively

3. (formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 14 point

4. an old style of black-letter typeface

5. (often not capital) the usual US and Canadian term for side

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adjective

1. denoting, using, or relating to the English language

2. relating to or characteristic of England or the English

verb

1. archaic to translate or adapt into English

English Idioms  

1. see body English; in plain English.

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Other Word Forms

• Englishness noun
• anti-English adjective
• half-English adjective
• non-English adjective
• pre-English adjective
• pro-English adjective
• pseudo-English adjective
• quasi-English adjective

Etymology

Origin of English

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English Englisc, equivalent to Engle (plural) “the English” (compare Latin Anglī “the Angles,” a branch of the Suevians + -isc; see origin at Angle, Anglic, -ish ¹

Example Sentences

After Harelly moved to the Bay Area to study creative writing at San Francisco State University, the bookworm felt a massive disconnect from the Eurocentric, English work she was assigned to read in her classes.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

He suggested it would be more appropriate for Scottish drivers to join in the English action at the High Court in London.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

As James writes elsewhere, “Summer afternoon— summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Translated into English, it means the gap is getting worse — and nobody knows how to fix it.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

“I speak English and understand most words under three syllables.”

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse