Brexit

[breg-zit, brek-sit]

noun

1. the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from membership in the European Union.

2. the nonbinding national referendum in 2016 that resulted in a vote for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Brexit¹

First recorded in 2012; (originally also spelled Brixit , referencing Britain's possible withdrawal); Br(itain) ( def. ) or Br(itish) ( def. ) + exit ¹ ( def. ); probably patterned on Grexit ( def. ), which dates from earlier that year

Example Sentences

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has mistakenly said Northern Ireland "voted to leave" the European Union as she defended her party's record on Brexit.

From BBC

Atherton is the third high-profile former Conservative to join the part in Wales, after former Brexit minister David Jones and Conservative Member of the Senedd Laura Anne Jones.

From BBC

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has linked the rise in small boat arrivals to Brexit, describing the crossings as "Farage boats".

From BBC

In the years before Brexit vote, the UK returned more people than it received - but in relatively small numbers.

From BBC

Migration experts say other Brexit factors, like the ending of fingerprint database access, have also made a difference.

From BBC