Dictionary.com

brit

or britt

[ brit ]
/ brɪt /
Save This Word!

noun

the group of small marine animals forming the food of baleen whales.
the young of herring and sprat.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”

Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
their
there
they're
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of brit

First recorded in 1595–1605; perhaps from Cornish brȳthel “mackerel”; akin to Old Cornish brȳth, Welsh brith “speckled”

Words nearby brit

Bristol board, Bristol Channel, Bristol fashion, bristols, Bristow, brit, Britain, Britain, Battle of, Britannia, Britannia coin, Britannia metal

Definition for brit (2 of 3)

Brit
[ brit ]
/ brɪt /

noun Informal.

Briton (def. 1).

Origin of Brit

First recorded in 1900–05; by shortening

Definition for brit (3 of 3)

Brit.

abbreviation

Britain.
British.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for brit

British Dictionary definitions for brit (1 of 3)

brit
/ (brɪt) /

noun (functioning as singular or plural)

the young of a herring, sprat, or similar fish
minute marine crustaceans, esp copepods, forming food for many fishes and whales

Word Origin for brit

C17: perhaps from Cornish brӯthel mackerel; see brill

British Dictionary definitions for brit (2 of 3)

Brit1
/ (brɪt) /

noun

informal a British person

British Dictionary definitions for brit (3 of 3)

Brit2

abbreviation for

Britain
British
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
See Today's Synonym