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.
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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.
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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:
The Dutch company is currently expecting sales of between €43 billion and €45 billion in 2026, with a full-year gross margin of between 54% and 56%.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
The Dutch government, which hosts the ICC, and other court member states have vowed to defend the institution.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
In January, a Dutch court also cited the opinion when it ordered the Netherlands to strengthen its climate plan in a case brought by residents of the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
As a native elm tree, it also resisted Dutch Elm disease, which destroyed most of the 30 million elms around the UK in the 1960s.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Although some Dutch women in 1937 were wearing their skirts knee-length, mine was still a cautious three inches above my shoes.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
In the past, unboxing videos have shown fans receiving at least five items, including dutch ovens and casserole dishes, making the box a huge steal.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2025
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
And then the “von dutch brat coconut tree edit” tweet hit—a collection of Harris sound bites, set to a Charli XCX song, with flashes of the signature neon green of the Brat album.
From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2024
Often capable of holding at least five quarts of liquid, a dutch oven is the perfect pot for a big batch of stew.
From Salon ● Mar. 12, 2023
Kids in a nearby park jumped double dutch in the air, almost floating off.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
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
It shall be to the Dutches of Alanson, The French Kings Sister; He shall marry her.
From Henry VIII by William Shakespeare
By his Lady he hes a claime to the estate of Baccleuch, failzeing of aires of this present Dutches hir body, tho the King hes somewhat inverted the straight succession heir.
From Publications of the Scottish History Society, Volume 36 Journals of Sir John Lauder Lord Fountainhall with His Observations on Public Affairs and Other Memoranda 1665-1676 by Lord John Lauder Fountainhall
Bring forth the prisoners: wher's my beauteous Dutches That she may see the ruine of her foes?
From A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 4 by A. H. (Arthur Henry) Bullen
Here comes the Dutches with proud Fredericks hearse.
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.
