Scots

American  

[skots] / skɒts /

noun

1. Also called Scottish.  the English language as spoken in Scotland.

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adjective

1. Scottish.

Scots British  

/ skɒts /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Scotland, its people, their English dialects, or their Gaelic language

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noun

1. any of the English dialects spoken or written in Scotland See also Lallans

Commonly Confused

See Scotch.

Etymology

Origin of Scots

1325–75; syncopated form of Scottis, Middle English, variant (north) of Scottish

Example Sentences

Their plan was good in theory: The Scots would carve a route across Panama and control trade between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

McArthur accused those who rejected the bill of a "woefully inadequate response to the suffering and trauma experienced by dying Scots and their families".

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

For Scots, whose undergraduate tuition is free thanks to government funding, the influx of Americans brings its own education.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

O'Brien collected Ciaran Frawley's pass and extended the hosts' advantage, meaning the Scots required a big final push.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

The Scots tried to carry out their part of the bargain, but in August 1648 their forces were defeated at Preston, and on 30 January the following year Charles I was executed.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin