Celtic

American  

[kel-tik, sel-] / ˈkɛl tɪk, ˈsɛl- /

Also Keltic

noun

1. a branch of the Indo-European family of languages, including especially Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, and Breton, which survive now in Ireland, the Scottish Highlands, Wales, and Brittany. Celt, Celt.

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adjective

1. of the Celts or their languages.

Celtic British  

/ ˈsɛl-, ˈsɛl-, ˈkɛltɪk, ˈkɛltɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. a branch of the Indo-European family of languages that includes Gaelic, Welsh, and Breton, still spoken in parts of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Brittany. Modern Celtic is divided into the Brythonic (southern) and Goidelic (northern) groups

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Celts or the Celtic languages

Other Word Forms

• Celtically
  adverb
• Celticism
  noun
• Celticist
  noun
• non-Celtic
  adjective
• pre-Celtic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Celtic

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin Celticus, equivalent to Celt(ae) “the Celts” + -icus adjective suffix; see origin at Celt, -ic ( def. 1 )

Compare meaning

How does celtic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Gaelic vs. Celtic

Example Sentences

By common consent, this is a Celtic squad well past its sell-by date.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

Which all begs two very obvious questions: Can Celtic really afford to let O'Neill leave?

From BBC • May 23, 2026

His latest, and probably last, act was his lobbed opener that set Celtic on their way at Hampden.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

All the indications are that Maeda will leave Celtic this summer, exiting with a crash, a bang and a wallop.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

It sounded like the infernal spawn of a Persian drum beat and a dozen Celtic fiddles.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram