Gael

¹ American

[geyl] / geɪl /

noun

a Scottish Celt or Highlander.
a Gaelic-speaking Celt.

Gael. ² American

Or Gael

abbreviation

Gaelic.

Gael British

/ ɡeɪl /

noun

a person who speaks a Gaelic language, esp a Highland Scot or an Irishman

"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

Other Word Forms

Gaeldom noun

Etymology

Origin of Gael

1590–1600; < Scots Gaelic Gaidheal, Old Irish Goidel

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.

I have a big pile of old cookbooks that inspired a lot of the specific dishes in the book, but the best resource was the New York magazine archives, particularly Gael Greene’s old columns.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

With Louis Lynagh in the sin-bin, debutant Gael Drean grabbed the vital bonus-point try and Emilien Gailleton crossed in a less eventful second half.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

Opposite number Fabien Galthie shook up his squad selection for the tournament, leaving out established players Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou and Gregory Alldritt.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

Svitolina, with husband Gael Monfils watching on, failed to capitalise and conceded her serve as well, but Gauff then sent down two double faults at crucial moments to be broken yet again.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

“I’m so glad you came. This is my son, Gael, and you know Selena.”

From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez

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