Eric

¹ American

[er-ik] / ˈɛr ɪk /

noun

Eric the Red.
a male given name: ultimately from Germanic words meaning “one” and “ruler.”

ERIC ² American

[er-ik] / ˈɛr ɪk /

abbreviation

Education Resources Information Center: a database of articles and reports on education-related topics.

eric British

/ ˈɛrɪk /

noun

(in old Irish law) a fine paid by a murderer to the family of his victim Compare wergild

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of eric

C16: from Irish eiric

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.

“The only way people found out that Barron Trump was going was through Eric Trump’s Instagram Story,” the Minneapolis resident said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

During the BBC's investigation, it became clear that Eric Adusah has multiple identities.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

An attorney for Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading Democratic candidate for California governor, on Thursday sent a cease and desist letter to an unknown individual demanding that they stop accusing the congressman of sexual assault.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

"I think he's trying to organize a cage match, me versus Eric and Don Jr. I told him I'd do it -- 100 percent in, if he can pull it off," Biden said.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

They carried Eric and Adam—exhausted and dehydrated—back to the waiting helicopter.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023