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

Nearly all the instructions were relayed electronically from the director’s cave and translated by a bilingual assistant director. —Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

Additionally, the Dallas Contemporary is fully bilingual; all exhibition text is presented in both English and Spanish. —Laura Ratliff, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026

Attendees can expect a bilingual show with professional circus artists, musicians and student performers from the circus’ free after-school program. —Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026

As today with Spanish and English, when one language has higher status, the second generation typically becomes bilingual and, by the third generation, the family loses the heritage language in favor of the new, something known as the three-generation pattern. —Valerie Fridland, Big Think, 21 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