Meanings
nounBritish pl (plural only)
alternative Brittish
- pluralplural onlyusuallywith definite articleThe residents or inhabitants of Great Britain.
- pluralplural onlyusuallywith definite articleThe citizens or inhabitants of the United Kingdom.
- pluralplural onlyusuallywith definite articlehistoryThe earlier inhabitants of southern Britain, prior to the Anglo-Saxon invasion and subsequent migrations.
Synonyms: Britons
proper noun
alternative Brittish
- usuallywith definite articleThe Celtic language of the ancient Britons; Common Brittonic.
- USusuallywith definite articleThe British English language.
adjectiveBritish (comparative more British, superlative most British)
comparative more British · superlative most British · alternative Brittish
- usuallywith definite articleOf Britain.
- usuallywith definite articleOf the United Kingdom.
- usuallywith definite articleOf the Commonwealth of Nations, or the British Empire.
- historicalusuallywith definite articleOf the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain; Brythonic.
- historicalusuallywith definite articleOf the British Isles.
- usuallywith definite articleOf British English.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe earlier inhabitants of southern Britain, prior to the Anglo-Saxon invasion and subsequent migrations.
Similar
nounSynonym of Welsh: the Welsh people.
Similar
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Old EnglishBrettisċ
- Middle EnglishBrittish
- EnglishBritish
From Middle English Brittish, from Old English Brettisċ. The spelling with single -t- appears in the 13th century under the influence of Medieval Latin Britannicus, but spelling with -tt- persists alongside -t- during the 13th to at least 18th centuries. In reference to the island of Great Britain from ca. 1400 (Latin natio Anglica sive Britannica, Brittisshe occean 1398, the Britishe nacion 1548). As a noun, referring to the British people, British soldiers, etc. from ca. 1600.
More words from Middle English, Old English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans Britte, Britte
- Brittethe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Brittecitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- Britse Engelsthe British English language
- Britsof Britain
- Britscolloquial: of the UK
Arabic بِرِيطَانِيّ, بِرِيطَانِيَّة
- بِرِيطَانِيّ (biriṭāniyy)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- بِرِيطَانِيَّة (biriṭāniyya)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- بِرِيطَانِيّ (biriṭāniyy)of Britain
- بَرِيطَانِيّ (barīṭāniyy)of Britain
Bengali ব্রিটিশ
- ব্রিটিশ (briṭiś)of Britain
Bulgarian брита́нски
- брита́нски (británski)of Britain
Catalan britànics, britànics
- britànicsthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- britànicscitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britànicof Britain
- britàniccolloquial: of the UK
Chinese Cantonese 英國人 /英国人
- 英國人 /英国人 (jing¹ gwok³ jan³)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
Chinese Mandarin 英國人 /英国人, 英國人 /英国人
- 英國人 /英国人 (yīngguórén)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- 英國人 /英国人 (yīngguórén)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- 英國英語 /英国英语 (yīngguóyǔ)the British English language
- 英國的 /英国的 (Yīngguó de)of Britain
Czech Britové, Britové
- Britovéthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Britovécitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- Britonovéhistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- britskýof Britain
- britskýcolloquial: of the UK
- britonskýhistory: of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
Danish brite, brite
- britethe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- britecitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britehistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- britisk engelskthe British English language
- britiskof Britain
Dutch Brit, Britse
- Britthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Britsethe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Britcitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- Britsecitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- Brits-Engelsthe British English language
- Britsof Britain
- Britscolloquial: of the UK
Esperanto brita
- britaof Britain
Estonian britt, britt
- brittthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- brittcitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britthistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- britiof Britain
Finnish britit, britit
- brititthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- brititcitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britithistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- brittiläisethistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- britannianenglantithe British English language
- brittiläinenof Britain
- britti-of Britain
- britannialainenof Britain
- brittiläinencolloquial: of the UK
- britti-colloquial: of the UK
- englantilainencolloquial: of the UK
- englantilais-colloquial: of the UK
- britannialainencolloquial: of the UK
- brittiläinenhistory: of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- britti-history: of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
French Britannique, Britannique
- Britanniquethe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Britanniquecitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- anglais britanniquethe British English language
- britanniqueof Britain
German Briten, Brite
- Britenthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Britethe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Britinthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Britencitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- Britecitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- Britincitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- Britisches Englischthe British English language
- britischof Britain
- großbritannischof Britain
- britischcolloquial: of the UK
Greek Βρετανός, Βρετανή
- Βρετανός (Vretanós)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Βρετανή (Vretaní)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Βρετανός (Vretanós)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- Βρετανή (Vretaní)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- αγγλικά (angliká)the British English language
- βρετανικός (vretanikós)of Britain
Hebrew בריטי, בְּרִיטִי
- בריטי (briti)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- בְּרִיטִי (briti)of Britain
Hindi अंग्रेज़, अंग्रेज़िन
- अंग्रेज़ (aṅgrez)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- अंग्रेज़िन (aṅgrezin)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- ब्रिटिश (briṭiś)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- ब्रिटिश (briṭiś)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- अंग्रेज़ी (aṅgrezī)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- अंग्रेज़ी (aṅgrezī)of Britain
- ब्रिटिश (briṭiś)of Britain
- ब्रिटिश (briṭiś)colloquial: of the UK
- अंग्रेज़ी (aṅgrezī)colloquial: of the UK
Hungarian brit, egyesült királysági
- britthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- egyesült királyságithe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- egyesült királyságbelithe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- britcitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- nagy-britanniaicitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- brithistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- britthe British English language
- brit angolthe British English language
- britof Britain
- britcolloquial: of the UK
- egyesült királyságicolloquial: of the UK
- egyesült királyságbelicolloquial: of the UK
- brithistory: of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
Icelandic Breti, breskur
- Breticitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- breskurof Britain
Indonesian Orang Inggris, Bangsa Inggris
- Orang Inggristhe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Bangsa Inggriscitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- Orang Inggris Kunohistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- Orang Pribumi Inggrishistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- Bahasa Inggristhe British English language
- Inggrisof Britain
Irish Briotanach
- Briotanachof Britain
Italian britannici, britannici
- britannicithe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- britannicicitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britannicoof Britain
Japanese イギリス人, 英国人
- イギリス人 (igirisujin)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- 英国人 (eikokujin)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- イギリス人 (igirisujin)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- 英国人 (eikokujin)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- イギリス英語 (Igirisu eigo)the British English language
- 英英語 or 英々語 (eieigo)the British English language
- イギリスの (Igirisu no)of Britain
- 英国の (Eikoku no)of Britain
- イギリスの (Igirisu no)colloquial: of the UK
- 英国の (Eikoku no)colloquial: of the UK
Korean 영국의, 영국의
- 영국의 (Yeonggug-ui)of Britain
- 영국의 (Yeonggug-ui)colloquial: of the UK
Latin Britanniae
- Britanniaeof Britain
Latvian britu, britisks
- brituof Britain
- britisksof Britain
Lithuanian britas, britė
- britasthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- britėthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- britascitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britėcitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britųof Britain
- britiškasof Britain
Māori a Peretānia, o Peretānia
- a Peretāniaof Britain
- o Peretāniaof Britain
Norwegian Bokmål brite, brite
- britethe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- britecitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britisk engelskthe British English language
- britiskof Britain
- britiskcolloquial: of the UK
- britiskhistory: of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
Persian بریتانیایی, بِریتانِیایی
- بریتانیایی (beritâniyâyi)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- بِریتانِیایی (beritâniyâyi)of Britain
- بریتانیایی (beritâniyâyi)colloquial: of the UK
Polish Brytyjczycy, Brytyjczycy
- Brytyjczycythe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Brytyjczycycitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- brytyjskiof Britain
- brytyjskicolloquial: of the UK
Portuguese britânicos, britânicos
- britânicosthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- britânicoscitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britõeshistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- bretõeshistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- inglês britânicothe British English language
- britânicoof Britain
- britânicocolloquial: of the UK
- britônicohistory: of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
Romanian britanic, britanic
- britanicthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- britanicthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- britaniccitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britanicicitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britonichistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- britonicihistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- engleză britanicăthe British English language
- britanicof Britain
- britaniccolloquial: of the UK
- britonichistory: of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
Russian брита́нец, брита́нка
- брита́нец (británec)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- брита́нка (británka)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- брита́нцы (británcy)the citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- брита́нец (británec)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- брита́нка (británka)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- брита́нцы (británcy)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- бритт (britt)history: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- бри́ттка (bríttka)history: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- бри́тты (brítty)history: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- бри́танский а́нглийский (brítanskij ánglijskij)the British English language
- брита́нский (británskij)of Britain
- брита́нский (británskij)colloquial: of the UK
Scottish Gaelic Breatannaich, Breatannaich
- Breatannaichthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Breatannaichcitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- Breatannaichhistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- Breatannachof Britain
- Breatannachcolloquial: of the UK
- Breatannachhistory: of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
Slovak Brit, Brit
- Britthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- Britcitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britskýof Britain
Spanish británicos, reinounidenses
- británicosthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- reinounidensesthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- británicoscitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- britanoshistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- británicoof Britain
- británicocolloquial: of the UK
- reinounidensecolloquial: of the UK
- britanohistory: of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
Swedish britt, brittiska
- brittthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- brittiskathe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- brittcitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- brittiskacitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- brittisk engelskathe British English language
- brittiskof Britain
- brittiskcolloquial: of the UK
Thai บริเตน
- บริเตน (brì-dteen)of Britain
Turkish İngiliz, İngiliz
- İngilizthe citizens or inhabitants of the UK
- İngilizcitizens or inhabitants of Britain
- İngiliz İngilizcesithe British English language
- İngilizof Britain
Ukrainian Британська англійська мова, брита́нський
- Британська англійська мова (Brytansʹka anhlijsʹka mova)the British English language
- брита́нський (brytánsʹkyj)of Britain
Urdu انگریز, بَرْطانْوِی
- انگریز (aṅgrez)citizens or inhabitants of Britain
- بَرْطانْوِی (bartānvī)of Britain
- بِرْٹِش (birṭiś)of Britain
- اَن٘گْریزی (aṅgrezī)of Britain
Vietnamese Anh, đảo Anh
- Anhof Britain
- đảo Anhof Britain
- Anhcolloquial: of the UK
Welsh Brython, Saesneg Prydain
- Brythonhistory: ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
- Saesneg Prydainthe British English language
- Prydeinigof Britain
- Prydeinigcolloquial: of the UK
- Brythonighistory: of the ancient inhabitants of the southern part of Britain
Yiddish בריטיש
- בריטיש (british)of Britain
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with British
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
British. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/British
MLA
“British.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/British. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “British,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/British.
Source: British on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.