bilingual

adjective

bi·​lin·​gual (ˌ)bī-ˈliŋ-gwəl 

 also  -gyə-wəl

1

: having or expressed in two languages

a bilingual document

an officially bilingual nation

2

: using or able to use two languages especially with equal fluency

bilingual in English and Japanese

3

: of or relating to bilingual education

bilingual noun

bilingually adverb

Examples of bilingual in a Sentence

Several of the employees are bilingual.

He is bilingual in English and Japanese.

She grew up in a bilingual community.

The town has an excellent bilingual education program.

Recent Examples on the Web

The program provides weekly immersive and English-Spanish bilingual learning for children 5 and under at no cost. —Ryan Deto, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025

In the 2023-24 school year, 82% of Fort Worth ISD students were economically disadvantaged or low-income, and 41% were emergent bilingual students, according to TEA data. —Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Mar. 2025

Perhaps most importantly, the decision to create a bilingual adaptation of this beloved children’s book, which has been available in Spanish for many years, represents an important step toward making theater more accessible for all Chicagoans. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025

Her book, Places We Love: San Diego Tijuana, is a bilingual photo guidebook of publicly accessible places across our region. —News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin bilinguis, from bi- + lingua tongue — more at tongue

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bilingual

• bilingual education

Rhymes for bilingual

• sublingual
• trilingual
• lingual
• monolingual

Kids Definition

bilingual

adjective

bi·​lin·​gual (ˌ)bī-ˈliŋ-g(yə-)wəl 

1

: of, expressed in, or using two languages

a bilingual dictionary

2

: able to use two languages especially with fluency