British

noun

Brit·​ish ˈbri-tish 

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 

noun

Britishness noun

Examples of British in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Having taken Seamus outside the wake, the British flipped him by offering the prospect of a better life for him and his wife in London. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024

His LinkedIn had shown us a serious education: B.A. from Harvard, an M.S. in France, a Ph.D. underway in London, memberships in the American Institute of Architects and the Royal Institute of British Architects, both of which require professional and educational verification. —Suzanne Seggerman, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024

Charles led Remembrance Day commemorations in London on Sunday as the United Kingdom remembered British and Commonwealth service members who have lost their lives in conflicts. —Hannah Peart, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024

Janet Werker is a developmental psychologist at the University of British Columbia who studies language acquisition in infants. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024

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

Phrases Containing British

• anti-British
• British English
• British Summer Time
• British thermal unit
• the British

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