Briton

noun

Brit·​on ˈbri-tᵊn How to pronounce Briton (audio)
1
: a member of one of the peoples inhabiting Britain prior to the Anglo-Saxon invasions
2
: a native or subject of Great Britain
especially : englishman

Examples of Briton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Founders Briton Hadden and Henry Luce envisioned a magazine that would synthesize complex events into digestible narratives, ensuring accessibility for busy readers. Mark Howard, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024 The Briton finished first in the season finale in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, helping McLaren clinch a first constructors’ championship in 26 years. Dan Cancian, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 The ruling on the Briton, identified by state news agency Tass and other media as James Scott Rhys Anderson, was announced Tuesday by court officials, who said in an online statement that it was handed down the previous day. Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024 Russian state news agency Tass and other outlets identified the Briton as James Scott Rhys Anderson. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024 The Briton was also hampered by McLaren’s decision not to prioritize him over Oscar Piastri in the title race until September. Dan Cancian, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024 Often his own harshest critic, the Briton took full accountability — maybe even too much — for mistakes at points through the year that temporarily lessened the pressure on Verstappen. Luke Smith, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024 The Briton’s chances of blowing the championship race wide open evaporated in Brazil three weeks ago, as the Dutchman secured his first Grand Prix victory since June 23 despite starting 17th. Dan Cancian, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 On match point last weekend, Auger-Aliassime hit a return to the Briton’s feet. Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 25 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Breton, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin Britton-, Britto, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh Brython

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Briton was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near Briton

Cite this Entry

“Briton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Briton. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

Briton

noun
Brit·​on ˈbrit-ən How to pronounce Briton (audio)
1
: a member of one of the peoples living in Britain before the Anglo-Saxon invasions
2

More from Merriam-Webster on Briton

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!