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; 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

Bellamy has distanced himself from links to Celtic, but others are bound to follow, with the FAW braced for offers.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel may have played his "last football game" with surgery required on his shoulder but he is eager to "fight" to regain fitness.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

With all this in mind, comparisons between a group of seven teenagers with a drum in Alloa and the large, well-resourced groups associated with Celtic or Rangers are difficult.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

The same three clubs were in the mix in the 1997-98 campaign, with Celtic eventually triumphing after Hearts fell away.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

There are Celtic crosses now, and the occasional angel.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood