What does "english" mean?
The people of England, e.g., Englishmen and Englishwomen.
English
/ˈɪŋ(ɡ)lɪʃ/ adj, name, noun, verb
adj, name, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The people of England, e.g., Englishmen and Englishwomen.
- Grammar: english is listed as adj, name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: abnaki, afghan, afghani, afrikaans.
- Useful contrasts: danish regne, dutch massa festival, french bassin.
- Usage evidence: My mom doesn't speak English very well.
How to use "english"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "english" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "english" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "english" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "english" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "english" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abnaki" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "english", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The people of England, e.g., Englishmen and Englishwomen. countable, in-plural, uncountable
"Cricket—a game which the English, not being a spiritual people, have invented in order to give themselves some conception of eternity."
- 2 Spinning or rotary motion given to a ball around the vertical axis, as in pool, billiards or bowling; spin, sidespin. Canada, US, uncountable
"You can't hit it directly, but maybe if you give it some english."
- 3 the discipline that studies the English language and literature wordnet
- 4 The non-Amish, people outside the Amish faith and community. countable, in-plural, uncountable
- 5 An unusual or unexpected interpretation of a text or idea, a spin, a nuance. broadly, figuratively, uncountable
"Some drop science, while I'm dropping english."
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- 6 an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries wordnet
- 7 Facility with the English language, ability to employ English correctly and idiomatically. uncountable
"Sorry, my English isn't very good. I wish I had better English."
- 8 (sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist wordnet
- 9 A particular instance of the English language, including:; The English term or expression for some thing or idea. countable, uncountable
"What's the English for 'à peu près'? It depends: how is it being used?"
- 10 the people of England wordnet
- 11 A particular instance of the English language, including:; The English text or phrasing of some spoken or written communication. countable, uncountable
"The specs are all correct, but the English in the instructions isn't as clear as it should be."
- 12 A particular instance of the English language, including:; A clear and readily understandable expression of some idea in English. countable, uncountable
"Thank you, doctor. Now, please say that again in English."
- 13 A particular instance of the English language, including:; Synonym of language arts, the class dedicated to improving primary and secondary school students' mastery of English and the material taught in such classes. countable, uncountable
"I loved reading until 7th grade English."
- 14 A size of type between pica (12 point) and great primer (18 point), standardized as 14-point. countable, dated, uncountable
- 15 Alternative form of english. Canada, US, alt-of, alternative, uncountable
"You are putting too much English on the ball."
Verb
- 1 To translate, adapt or render into English. archaic, rare, transitive
"[…] severe prohibuit viris suis tum misceri feminas in consuetis suis menstruis, etc. I spare to English this which I have said."
- 2 Alternative form of English. alt-of, alternative, archaic, rare, transitive
"Eduard Sievers and his followers have, in recent years, raised the study of speech rhythm to the rank of a special science, which they call Schallanalyse, a name best englished as rhythmics."
- 3 To make English; to claim for England. archaic, rare, transitive
"While the man Clive—he fought Plassy, spoiled the clever foreign game, Conquered and annexed and Englished!"
Adjective
- 1 Of or pertaining to England.
"During the war of 1914–18 the English working class were in contact with foreigners to an extent that is rarely possible. The sole result was that they brought back a hatred of all Europeans, except the Germans, whose courage they admired."
- 2 English-language; of or pertaining to the language, descended from Anglo-Saxon, which developed in England.
"Those immigrants Anglicised their names to make them sound more English."
- 3 Of or pertaining to the people of England (e.g. Englishmen and Englishwomen).
"The Uſuwrper [...] within a few miles Tanna's Fort, near the Engliſh ſettlement of Fort William."
- 4 Of or pertaining to the avoirdupois system of measure.
"an English ton"
- 5 Non-Amish, so named for speaking English rather than a variety of German.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Denoting a vertical orientation of the barn doors on a camera.
Adjective
- 1 of or relating to or characteristic of England or its culture or people wordnet
- 2 of or relating to the English language wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 The language that developed in England and is now spoken in the British Isles, the Commonwealth of Nations, North America, and many other parts of the world. countable, uncountable
"English is spoken here as an unofficial language and lingua franca."
- 2 A variety, dialect, or idiolect of spoken and or written English. countable, uncountable
"I began to write stories using all the Englishes I grew up with: the English I spoke to my mother, which for lack of a better term might be described as “simple”; the English she used with me, which for lack of a better term might be described as “broken”; my translation of her Chinese, which could certainly be described as “watered down”; and what I imagined to be her translation of her Chinese if she could speak in perfect English, her internal language, and for that I sought to preserve the essence, but neither an English nor a Chinese structure."
- 3 English language, literature, composition as a subject of study countable, uncountable
- 4 An English surname originally denoting a non-Celtic or non-Danish person in Britain. countable, uncountable
- 5 A male or female given name. countable, uncountable
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 A number of places in the United States:; A town, the county seat of Crawford County, Indiana; named for Indiana statesman William Hayden English. countable, uncountable
- 7 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Carroll County, Kentucky. countable, uncountable
- 8 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Brazoria County, Texas. countable, uncountable
- 9 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Red River County, Texas. countable, uncountable
- 10 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia. countable, uncountable
Antonyms
danish regnedutch massa festivalfrench bassinfrench discipline
Example
"My mom doesn't speak English very well."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "english"?
Common synonyms include: abnaki, afghan, afghani, afrikaans, ainu, akan.
How do you use "english" in a sentence?
My mom doesn't speak English very well.
How do you pronounce "english"?
Pronounced /ˈɪŋ(ɡ)lɪʃ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English Englisch, English, Inglis, from Old English Englisċ (“of the Angles; English”), from Engle (“the Angles”), a Germanic tribe + -isċ; equivalent to Engle + -ish. Compare West Frisian Ingelsk, Scots Inglis (older ynglis), Dutch Engels, Danish engelsk, Old French Englesche (whence French anglais), German englisch, Spanish inglés, all ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enǵʰ- (“narrow”) (compare Sanskrit अंहु (áṃhu, “narrow”), अंहस् (áṃhas, “anxiety, sin”), Latin angustus (“narrow”), Old Church Slavonic ѫзъкъ (ǫzŭkŭ, “narrow”)). More at Angles (tribe) § Etymology on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Etymology 2
Uncertain. It is speculated to relate either to people from England introducing the technique for billiards or bowling in the United States, or perhaps from a particular person with the surname English.