Birmingham
Americannoun
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a city in West Midlands, in central England.
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a city in central Alabama.
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a city in SE Michigan, near Detroit.
noun
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an industrial city in central England, in Birmingham unitary authority, in the West Midlands: the second largest city in Great Britain; two cathedrals; three universities (1900, 1966, 1992). Pop: 970 892 (2001) informal Brummie
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a unitary authority in central England, in the West Midlands. Pop: 992 100 (2003 est). Area: 283 sq km (109 sq miles)
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an industrial city in N central Alabama: rich local deposits of coal, iron ore, and other minerals. Pop: 236 620 (2003 est)
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Birmingham was the site of extreme racial violence during the civil rights movement. Although associated with specific race riots in 1963, Birmingham came to represent, as a whole, southern white resistance to integration. (See “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”)
Birmingham is known as the “Pittsburgh of the South” for its steel and iron production.
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.
Dr. Scott Glaberman of the University of Birmingham said the findings highlight the value of studying a wide range of species.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
To make health retreats "easily achievable", Alex Hyde and Sam Carter-Smith hosted the OneRetreat Wellness in Birmingham, a one-day festival with exercise classes, sauna sessions and professional talks.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Earlier on Friday, Prince Harry was in Birmingham counting down to the next Invictus Games for injured service men and women, an event he has been closely involved with for a number of years.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
A physicist at the University of Birmingham has created a laboratory "mini universe" that brings scientists a step closer to answering one of the biggest questions in physics: What is time?
From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026
“I’m reading The Watsons Go to Birmingham right now. My favorite book is Harriet the Spy.”
From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon
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.
