Dutch
adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of the natives or inhabitants of the Netherlands or their country or language.
Dutch
American
[duhch]
/ dʌtʃ /
adjective
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of the natives or inhabitants of the Netherlands or their country or language.
-
pertaining to or designating the style of painting and subject matter developed in the Netherlands during the 17th century, chiefly characterized by the use of chiaroscuro, muted tones, naturalistic colors or forms, and of genre, landscape, or still-life subjects drawn from contemporary urban and rural life.
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of the Pennsylvania Dutch.
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Archaic. German; Teutonic.
noun
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Dutches
plural
-
the people of the Netherlands and their immediate descendants elsewhere, collectively.
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Also called Netherlandic. the Germanic language of the Netherlands and northern Belgium. D, D.
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Obsolete. the German language.
idioms
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go Dutch, to have each person pay their own expenses: Also go dutch
a dinner where everyone goes Dutch.
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in Dutch, in trouble or disfavor (with someone).
in Dutch with the teacher for disturbing the class.
Dutch
1
British
/ dʌtʃ /
noun
-
the language of the Netherlands, belonging to the West Germanic branch of the Indo-European family and quite closely related to German and English See also Flemish Afrikaans
-
(functioning as plural) the natives, citizens, or inhabitants of the Netherlands
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See double Dutch
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slang in trouble
adjective
adverb
dutch
2
British
/ dʌtʃ /
noun
Dutch
More Idioms
Sensitive Note
The idioms go Dutch (related to Dutch treat ) and in Dutch (which uses Dutch to mean “trouble”) are both sometimes perceived as insulting to or by the Dutch. In addition, the adjective Dutch is found in a few other set phrases ( Dutch courage, Dutch gold, and Dutch uncle ) in which it implies that something Dutch is not authentic. Although insulting a particular person or nationality may be unintentional, it is best to be aware that use of these terms is sometimes perceived as offensive to or by the Dutch.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of Dutch
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English Duch, from Middle Dutch duutsch “Dutch, German(ic),” Old High German diutisc “popular, vulgar (language)” (as opposed to learned Latin), translation of Latin (lingua) vulgāris “popular (language)”
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.
See Examples For:
But the McLaren driver does not expect the Dutch Grand Prix to end with the comfortable victory he enjoyed in Hungary a month ago.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
The French and the Dutch, like the British, established monopolistic trading companies in India.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
The Dutch institution is frequently visited by enthusiastic Japanese fans, and other nations like China, Singapore and South Korea also have asked about loaning it, she said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
Helen Richardson-Walsh knew Olympic gold was theirs while observing the Dutch players' behaviour in the tunnel before the game.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
Uncle Dutch says they could hear the captain talking, like he was having a conversation, but they could only hear one voice.
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
What did we ever do to deserve a lethal game of double dutch with two giant mechanical children swinging a 10-ton metal rod in place of a jump rope?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2025
Enter the brat-ified Kamala Harris: the “von dutch brat coconut tree edit featuring kamala harris,” dropped on X, auguring a vibe shift of extraordinary scale.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2024
Sauté onion and sweet pepper in butter in large dutch oven.
From Fox News ● Sep. 30, 2021
In a separate dutch oven or large saucepan, add the reserved 4 cups chicken stock, the juice of one lemon, about half the dill and salt and pepper to taste.
From Salon ● May 14, 2021
Kids in a nearby park jumped double dutch in the air, almost floating off.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
The next morning as he was abed with his Dutches at Bath he told her of it, and sent Dr. Charleton to me for them, to shew her as a rarity.
From The Natural History of Wiltshire by John Aubrey
I detest that name, My mother was a Dutches of true fame; And now I thinke upon her, when she died I was ordain'd to be indignified.
From A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 4 by A. H. (Arthur Henry) Bullen
Which knife was brought over into England by Captaine Buckestone, and by him delivered unto the Dutches of Buckingham her Grace on Monday night last.’
From The Pictorial Press Its Origin and Progress by Mason Jackson
Here comes the Dutches with proud Fredericks hearse.
From A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 4 by A. H. (Arthur Henry) Bullen
She must be made my Dutches, there it goes; And marrying her, I marry thousand woes.—
From A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 4 by A. H. (Arthur Henry) Bullen
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.
