English
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or characteristic of England or its inhabitants, institutions, etc.
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belonging or relating to, or spoken or written in, the English language.
a high school English class;
an English translation of a Spanish novel.
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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.
noun
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(used with a plural verb) the people of England collectively, especially as distinguished from the Scots, Welsh, and Irish.
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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
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English language, composition, and literature as offered as a course of study in school.
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a specific variety of the English language, as that of a particular time, place, or person.
Shakespearean English;
American English.
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simple, straightforward language.
What does all that jargon mean in English?
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Sports.
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a spinning motion imparted to a ball, especially in billiards.
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Printing. a 14-point type of a size between pica and Columbian.
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a grade of calendered paper having a smooth matte finish.
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(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)
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to translate into English.
to English Euripides.
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to adopt (a foreign word) into English; Anglicize.
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(sometimes lowercase) to impart spin to (a ball).
noun
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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
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(functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of England collectively
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(formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 14 point
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an old style of black-letter typeface
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(often not capital) the usual US and Canadian term for side
adjective
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denoting, using, or relating to the English language
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relating to or characteristic of England or the English
verb
Other Word Forms
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There's clearly a sense of injustice about the English student loan system.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
Bede chose not include the original Old English poem in his History, but to translate it into Latin.
From Science Daily • May 17, 2026
The film stars Hugh Jackman as a shepherd who reads mysteries to his flock in an English village.
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
There’s a whole English hamlet full of them.
From Salon • May 17, 2026
The army had wanted to make sure I could remember complicated instructions, in English and in French, while translating information crucial to the war.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
