English
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or characteristic of England or its inhabitants, institutions, etc.
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belonging or relating to, or spoken or written in, the English language.
a high school English class;
an English translation of a Spanish novel.
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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.
noun
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(used with a plural verb) the people of England collectively, especially as distinguished from the Scots, Welsh, and Irish.
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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
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English language, composition, and literature as offered as a course of study in school.
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a specific variety of the English language, as that of a particular time, place, or person.
Shakespearean English;
American English.
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simple, straightforward language.
What does all that jargon mean in English?
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Sports.
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a spinning motion imparted to a ball, especially in billiards.
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Printing. a 14-point type of a size between pica and Columbian.
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a grade of calendered paper having a smooth matte finish.
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(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)
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to translate into English.
to English Euripides.
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to adopt (a foreign word) into English; Anglicize.
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(sometimes lowercase) to impart spin to (a ball).
noun
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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
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(functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of England collectively
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(formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 14 point
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an old style of black-letter typeface
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(often not capital) the usual US and Canadian term for side
adjective
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denoting, using, or relating to the English language
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relating to or characteristic of England or the English
verb
Other Word Forms
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; see origin at Angle, Anglic, -ish 1
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.
One was certain Ferguson would regret the move to the English giants.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
A school staple gets revisited: Millions of students had to read the coming-of-age wilderness survival novel Hatchet in English class.
From Slate ● Nov. 6, 2026
From the moment LIV teed off in an English village outside London for the first time in 2022, it upended the world of professional golf.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
English authorities and the monarchy were prominent participants in the centuries-long slave trade which saw millions of Africans enslaved and forced to work, especially on plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
All gone down to the harbor and across the sea to the English.
From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
