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

Amazon Freevee’s bilingual series followed the intertwining lives of various families in the farmlands of Northern California. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 1 May 2026

Idra Novey and Garth Greenwell team up on translations of Spanish poet Luis Muñoz, and Nightboat Books delivers Antonio Ochoa’s engaging bilingual prose poem sequence, Small Sargasso Mountains. —Literary Hub, 1 May 2026

On Wednesday, Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Peter Licata issued a statement on the staff cuts and school closure, describing the changes as thoughtful decisions meant to improve outcomes for all students, including emergent bilingual students and students with disabilities. —Lina Ruiz may 1, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2026

Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap have always been ferocious rappers, two goliaths spitting bilingual bars over gritty electronica with the couplet-completing precision of Run the Jewels. —Dean Van Nguyen, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2026

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