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

The value of having a generation of children that are bilingual will enrich our future. —Madeleine Parrish, The Arizona Republic, 8 Oct. 2024

Rodriguez — a composer, violinist and bilingual singer-songwriter — will lead workshops for students and premiere an original collaboration commissioned and produced by Texas Performing Arts. —Nicole Cobler, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024

A week after Denver’s High Plains Comedy Festival, the Denver Improv and Greeley’s Moxi Theater are hosting the Vatos Locos Comedy Festival, which organizer Ricky Ramos describes as the state’s first and only bilingual comedy event. —John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2024

For bilingual households, 46% said they were not contacted. —Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 4 Sep. 2024

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

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