English

1 of 3

adjective

En·​glish ˈiŋ-glish  ˈiŋ-lish 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of England, the English people, or the English language

Englishness noun

English

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: the language of the people of England and the U.S. and many areas now or formerly under British control

b

: a particular variety of English distinguished by peculiarities (as of pronunciation)

c

: English language, literature, or composition when a subject of study

2

plural in construction : the people of England

3

a

: an English translation

b

: idiomatic or intelligible English

4

: spin around the vertical axis deliberately imparted to a ball that is driven or rolled compare draw, follow, body english

English

3 of 3

verb

Englished; Englishing; Englishes

transitive verb

1

: to translate into English

2

: to adopt into English : anglicize

Examples of English in a Sentence

Noun

The English traditionally have afternoon tea.

I asked the doctor to give me my diagnosis in English, not medical jargon.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Experience a full English tea service with unlimited samplings of loose leaf tea, handmade tea sandwiches, nut-free scones and sweets, served on vintage dinnerware. —Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 14 July 2024

When the 4-year-old English bulldog tried, his misshapen eyelids would roll inward, causing his eyelashes to scrape against his cornea. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 14 July 2024

Noun

In their place stood a well-coiffed, 4-foot-7 pixie with merry eyes and extravagantly rolled r’s (German was her first language, English her fourth) and a girlish screech of a laugh. —Louis Bayard, Washington Post, 15 July 2024

The officer on duty happened to be a hiker and, between our rough Spanish and his better English, managed to give us directions to an area with perfect pinnacles of conglomerate rock. —Olivia Jordan Cornelius, Outside Online, 15 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English englisc, from Engle (plural) Angles

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing English

• African American English
• African American Vernacular English
• American English
• anti-English
• Black English
• Black English vernacular
• body English
• borough English
• British English
• English breakfast
• English cocker spaniel
• English daisy
• English foxhound
• English holly
• English horn
• English ivy
• English muffin
• English pea
• English saddle
• English setter
• English shepherd
• English sonnet
• English sparrow
• English springer spaniel
• English system
• English toy spaniel
• English walnut
• English yew
• Hiberno English
• King's English
• Middle English
• New English Bible
• Old English
• Old English sheepdog
• pidgin English
• Southern English
• Standard English
• the English
• un-English

Kids Definition

English

1 of 2 adjective

En·​glish ˈiŋ-glish 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of England, the English people, or the English language

English

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the language of the people of England and the U.S. and many areas now or formerly under British control

b

: English language, literature, or writing technique that is a subject of study

2

English plural : the people of England

3

: a sideways spin given to a ball when it is struck or bowled

Etymology

Adjective

Old English englisc "English," from Engle "the Angles (Germanic people who invaded England in the 5th century along with the Saxons and with them formed the Anglo-Saxon peoples)"

Biographical Definition

English

biographical name

En·​glish ˈiŋ-glish 

ˈiŋ-lish

Bill 1961–    Simon William English prime minister of New Zealand (2016–2017)