Irish

[ ahy-rish ]

/ ˈaɪ rɪʃ /

Save This Word!

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Ireland, its inhabitants, or their language.

noun

the inhabitants of Ireland and their descendants elsewhere.

the aboriginal Celtic-speaking people of Ireland.

Also called Irish Gaelic . the Celtic language of Ireland in its historical or modern form. Abbreviation: Ir, Ir.Compare Middle Irish, Old Irish.

Irish English.

Irish whiskey.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about Irish

get one's Irish up, Informal. to become angry or outraged: Don't go getting your Irish up over a little matter like that.

Origin of Irish

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English Yrisse, Iris(c)h; compare Old English Īras people of Ireland (cognate with Old Norse Īrar ); see -ish¹

usage note for Irish

See Irish pennant.

OTHER WORDS FROM Irish

I·rish·ly, adverbanti-Irish, adjective, nounhalf-Irish, adjectivenon-Irish, adjective, noun

pre-Irish, adjectivepro-Irish, adjectivepseudo-Irish, adjective

Words nearby Irish

Irina, iris, irisation, iris diaphragm, iris family, Irish, Irish boat, Irish bridge, Irish bull, Irish coffee, Irish elk

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Irish in a sentence

Only female couples who have conceived in an Irish clinic with a non anonymous donor and a child born in Ireland are covered.
Still fighting for parental rights in Ireland|Ranae von Meding|February 14, 2021|Washington Blade
That evening he and an Army sergeant who stayed with him tried to boil an Irish stew in Stanton’s fireplace.
The war secretary who barricaded himself in his office during an impeachment trial|Ronald G. Shafer|January 26, 2021|Washington Post
Facebook then appealed that ruling, saying the newly introduced GDPR now definitely meant only the Irish regulator could take it to court.
A Facebook case in Belgium could open the floodgates for GDPR privacy suits|David Meyer|January 13, 2021|Fortune
The Irish actor Gabriel Byrne has had a rich and varied career.
Gabriel Byrne’s ‘Walking with Ghosts’ is a revelation in unexpected ways|Keith Donohue|January 12, 2021|Washington Post

Optimum Nutrition is an Irish owned company with Illinois roots that focuses on whey-based protein supplements to support sports nutrition.
Best protein powder: Better nutrition in a bottle|Carsen Joenk|January 11, 2021|Popular-Science
The month of May will see an Irish referendum on the legalization of same-sex marriage.
‘Only God’ Can Stop Gay Marriage|Tim Mak|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
After years at the head of a parochial school classroom, he could no longer distinguish one blond Irish Catholic kid from another.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro|Doug McIntyre|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A notably large Irish contingent took part in the infamous draft riots because they did not want to compete for jobs with blacks.
This Week's Riots Are Part of America's Long History of Racial Rage|Sharon Adarlo|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is a reasonable assumption, considering his roots in the Republican Party, in the Marines, and his proud Scots-Irish roots.
Hillary Gets a Challenger and He’s a Marine|David Freedlander|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Irish immigrants were more likely to vote Democratic, and German immigrants voted Republican.
What Lincoln Could Teach Fox News|Scott Porch|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Irish Peasantry are idle, the English say truly enough; but who inquires whether there is any work within their reach?
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
While a counsellor was pleading at the Irish bar, a louse unluckily peeped from under his wig.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Two Irish soldiers being stationed in a borough in the west of England, got into a conversation respecting their quarters.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Moore cared not for it; indeed, I think that Irish gentlemen smoke much less than English.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
An Irish clergyman insisted that it was the little hamlet of Auburn, in the county of Westmeath.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various

British Dictionary definitions for Irish

Irish

/ (ˈaɪrɪʃ) /

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Ireland, its people, their Celtic language, or their dialect of English

informal, offensive ludicrous or illogical

noun

the Irish (functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of Ireland

another name for Irish Gaelic

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 Idioms and Phrases with Irish

Irish

see luck of the devil (Irish).