English

American  

[ing-glish, -lish] / ˈɪŋ glɪʃ, -lɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of England or its inhabitants, institutions, etc.

2. belonging or relating to, or spoken or written in, the English language.

   a high school English class;

   an English translation of a Spanish novel.

3. of or relating to a person or thing that is not Amish, generally used by Amish people in Anglophone North America.

   The Amish rarely celebrate English holidays like Labor Day.

   He fixed a rabbit hutch for his English neighbor.

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noun

1. (used with a plural verb) the people of England collectively, especially as distinguished from the Scots, Welsh, and Irish.

2. the Germanic language of England, widespread and standard also in the United States, Canada, and other countries colonized or settled by England, historically termed Old English (c450–c1150), Middle English (c1150–c1475), and Modern English (after c1475). E

3. English language, composition, and literature as offered as a course of study in school.

4. a specific variety of the English language, as that of a particular time, place, or person.

   Shakespearean English;

   American English.

5. simple, straightforward language.

   What does all that jargon mean in English?

6. Sports.

   1. a spinning motion imparted to a ball, especially in billiards.

   2. body English.

7. Printing. a 14-point type of a size between pica and Columbian.

8. a grade of calendered paper having a smooth matte finish.

9. (used with a plural verb) people who are not Amish, generally used by Amish people in Anglophone North America.

   More Amish than English live in this county.

verb (used with object)

1. to translate into English.

   to English Euripides.

2. to adopt (a foreign word) into English; Anglicize.

3. (sometimes lowercase) to impart spin to (a ball).

English British  

/ ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ /

noun

1. the official language of Britain, the US, most parts of the Commonwealth, and certain other countries. It is the native language of over 280 million people and is acquired as a second language by many more. It is an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch See also Middle English Old English Modern English

2. (functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of England collectively

3. (formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 14 point

4. an old style of black-letter typeface

5. (often not capital) the usual US and Canadian term for side

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adjective

1. denoting, using, or relating to the English language

2. relating to or characteristic of England or the English

verb

1. archaic to translate or adapt into English

English Idioms  

1. see body English; in plain English.

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Other Word Forms

• Englishness noun
• anti-English adjective
• half-English adjective
• non-English adjective
• pre-English adjective
• pro-English adjective
• pseudo-English adjective
• quasi-English adjective

Etymology

Origin of English

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English Englisc, equivalent to Engle (plural) “the English” (compare Latin Anglī “the Angles,” a branch of the Suevians + -isc; Angle, Anglic, -ish ¹

Example Sentences

Researchers found that Latino students faced myriad challenges, including immigration issues, English proficiency and unstable housing that is linked to their parents’ employment status.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

There will be an element of frustration from the English side after they twice came from behind against Bayern last week, only for Momoko Tanikawa to score a late winner for the visitors.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

I am thankful to have grown up in a bilingual country and to have attended a high school where we studied Molière in French and Shakespeare in English.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

All together, English top-flight club spent £460.3 million on agents' fees.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

“It is not German. This looks to me like a British compass, or American. A German compass would have O for ost, and this has an E. Ost in English is ‘east.’

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo