Phil

[ fil ]

/ fɪl /

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noun

a male given name, form of Philip.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Other definitions for Phil (2 of 4)

phil-

variant of philo- before a vowel: philanthropy.

Other definitions for Phil (3 of 4)

phil.

abbreviation

philosophical.

philosophy.

Other definitions for Phil (4 of 4)

Phil.

abbreviation

Bible. Philemon.

Philip.

Bible. Philippians.

Philippine.

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

How to use Phil in a sentence

A lot of actors are good, but Phil was a fully developed artist.
Coffee Talk with Ethan Hawke: On ‘Boyhood,’ Jennifer Lawrence, and Bill Clinton’s Urinal Exchange|Marlow Stern|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Phil Hoffman had to transform himself into Truman Capote while Julia Roberts won for being brassy in Erin Brockovich.
Exclusive: Aaron Sorkin Thinks Male Film Roles Have Bigger ‘Degree of Difficulty’ Than Female Ones|William Boot|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But when you listen to Winehouse sing it, she understands things in the lyrics that Phil Spector never did.
Greil Marcus Talks About Trying to Unlock Rock and Roll in 10 Songs|Allen Barra|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No, I would have never written about the original version, even though it was produced by Phil Spector.
Greil Marcus Talks About Trying to Unlock Rock and Roll in 10 Songs|Allen Barra|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“A lot of the critical details in the plot were a mishmash of ideas that made no sense,” astronomer Phil Plait wrote at Slate.
Meet Kip Thorne, the Man Who Crafted the Artful Science of ‘Interstellar’|Asawin Suebsaeng|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Brother Phil, not yet old enough for trousers, stands at her side; and that boy with his hand on the knob of the bedpost is Dorry.
The Nursery, January 1873, Vol. XIII.|Various
I saw Roscoe looking at him in an abstracted way, and, as he did not reply, I said: "Phil had many friends and no enemies."
Mrs. Falchion, Complete|Gilbert Parker
Then I suggested quietly that Phil's dollars could be put to a better use than for prog and liquor.
Mrs. Falchion, Complete|Gilbert Parker
When Phil's pal left us he went wandering down the hillside, talking to himself.
Mrs. Falchion, Complete|Gilbert Parker
Uncle Will and Phil set to work to cut up the carcass, first removing the hide, which the former wished to preserve.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail|Arthur R. Thompson

British Dictionary definitions for Phil (1 of 2)

phil.

abbreviation for

philosophy

philharmonic

British Dictionary definitions for Phil (2 of 2)

Phil.

abbreviation for

Philippians

Philippines

Philadelphia

Philharmonic

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