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

Therapies feature products made from local products in British Columbia, like Pacific seaweed and glacial clay. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

The landmark moment represented the first time a modern British Royal had been arrested. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Crowds of visitors have swarmed the British Museum since the Bayeux Tapestry arrived in London from its home in Normandy, France, earlier this fall. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Humans have been collecting sounds ever since, and archiving them in institutions like the British Library Sound Archive and Library of Congress, for purposes scientific, ethnographic, historical and artistic. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

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 Columbian
• British English
• British Racing Green
• British Summer Time
• British thermal unit
• the British

Rhymes for British

• skittish

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