Scottish

American  

[skot-ish] / ˈskɒt ɪʃ /

adjective

1. Also of or relating to Scotland, its people, or their language.

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noun

1. the people of Scotland.

2. Scots.

Scottish British  

/ ˈskɒtɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Scotland, its people, their Gaelic language, or their English dialect

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noun

1. (functioning as plural) the Scots collectively

Commonly Confused

See Scotch.

Other Word Forms

• Scottishly adverb
• Scottishness noun
• half-Scottish adjective

Etymology

Origin of Scottish

First recorded before 900; Middle English, from Late Latin Scott(us) Scot + -ish ¹; replacing Old English Scyttisc

Example Sentences

The Scottish government recently published phase two of a women's health plan, which was first launched in 2021.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

But a target to eradicate long waits by the end of March was missed by the Scottish government, with more than 44,000 such cases recorded.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

In all, 70,000 jobs have been lost over the last decade according to a report, by the Scottish Affairs Committee.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Data for England measures those waiting to start treatment, while Scottish data is a count of those at different stages between diagnosis and treatment.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

"And that is my part in the great journey of Jeanne, Jacob, William, and Gwenforte," the Scottish chronicler concludes.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz