1
plural in construction : natives or inhabitants of Ireland or their descendants especially when of Celtic speech or culture
2
a
: the Celtic language of Ireland especially as used since the later medieval period
b
: English spoken by the Irish
3
Irish adjective

Examples of Irish in a Sentence

How many Irish are there in England?
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.
The Fighting Irish were ninth nationally in total defense at 298.3 yards per game. Joe Reedy, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2025 The Irish held a 13-3 halftime lead, and Harrison’s return on the second-half kickoff forced the Bulldogs to battle from behind, which played into Notre Dame’s strengths and helped secure the upset. Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025 The Dead Rabbit’s Irish Coffee Martini features Bushmills Original, Mr. Black coffee liqueur, Angostura cacao bitters, a touch of demerara-molasses syrup, and espresso made from a custom blend by Irish roaster Calendar Coffee. Christina Liao, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025 The electric atmosphere belied the freezing temperatures and the game between the Fighting Irish and Hoosiers felt like a massive deal. Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for Irish 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English *Īrisc, from Īras Irishmen, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish Ériu Ireland

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near Irish

Cite this Entry

“Irish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Irish. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

Irish

noun
1
Irish plural : the people of Ireland
2
: the Celtic language of Ireland
Irish adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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