British

noun

Brit·​ish ˈbri-tish How to pronounce British (audio)
1
a
: the Celtic language of the ancient Britons
b
: british english
2
plural in construction : the people of Great Britain or the Commonwealth of Nations
British adjective
Britishism
ˈbri-ti-ˌshi-zəm How to pronounce British (audio)
noun
Britishness noun

Examples of British in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Jamaican dance band The Vagabonds were formed in 1960, and the group relocated to the United Kingdom at the height of the British Invasion in 1964. —Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 16 May 2024 Our guide to the 101 best West Coast experiences brings you essential things to do in Baja, California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. —Michelle Woo, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for British 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'British.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Bruttische of Britain, from Old English Brettisc, from Brettas Britons, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh Brython Briton

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of British was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing British

Dictionary Entries Near British

Briticism

British

British alpine

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“British.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/British. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

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Kids Definition

British

1 of 2 noun
Brit·​ish
ˈbrit-ish
1
plural British : the people of Great Britain or their descendants
2
: the English language as spoken in England

British

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of or relating to the original people of Britain
2
a
: of or relating to Great Britain or the British
b
: English entry 1
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