Stratford-on-Avon

/ˈstɹætfə(ɹ)d ɒn ˈeɪvən/

proper noun

A town in Warwickshire, England, birthplace of William Shakespeare. Often used as a byword for a particularly idyllic or historic town.

OriginOld Welsh avon ← Old English ford ← Latin strata →
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Meanings

proper noun

alternative Stratford-upon-Avon · alternative Stratford

  1. A town in Warwickshire, England, birthplace of William Shakespeare. Often used as a byword for a particularly idyllic or historic town.

    Nuneaton was not a Stratford on Avon, nor had it a salubrious air.

    1957, The Foundry Trade Journal, page 454
    1 more example

    If America is not privileged enough to have a Stratford-on-Avon, it still has a Concord

    1979, Steven Kagle, America: Exploration and Travel, page 82
  2. A local government district of Warwickshire with its headquarters in the town.

Origin

  1. Latinstrata“road”
  2. Old Englishstrǣt“street”
  3. Old Englishford“ford”
  4. Old Welshavon“river”
  5. EnglishStratford-on-Avon

From being the location of a river ford for a roadway. From Old Welsh avon (“river”) + Old English ford (“ford”) + Old English strǣt (“street”); from Latin strata (“road”). From being a ford for a British Roman road. The ford itself has subsequently been built over, becoming Clopton Bridge. The river itself has subsequently become named River Avon.

More words from Old Welsh, Old English, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian Стра́тфорд на Е́йвън
  • Стра́тфорд на Е́йвън (Strátford na Éjvăn)Stratford-on-Avon
Chinese 埃文河畔斯特拉特福
  • 埃文河畔斯特拉特福 (Āiwén hépàn Sītèlātèfú)Stratford-on-Avon
French Stratford-on-Avon
  • Stratford-on-AvonStratford-on-Avon
Japanese ストラトフォード・アポン・エイヴォン
  • ストラトフォード・アポン・エイヴォン (Sutoratofōdo-Apon-Eivon)Stratford-on-Avon
Korean 스트랫퍼드 어펀 에이번
  • 스트랫퍼드 어펀 에이번 (Seuteuraetpeodeu Eopeon Eibeon)Stratford-on-Avon
Latin Stratfordia super Avonam
  • Stratfordia super AvonamStratford-on-Avon
Persian استراتفورد
  • استراتفورد (estrâtford)Stratford-on-Avon
Russian Стра́тфорд-на-Эйво́не
  • Стра́тфорд-на-Эйво́не (Strátford-na-Ejvóne)Stratford-on-Avon
Tamil ஸ்துரடஃபர்டு அப்பொன்-ஏவன்
  • ஸ்துரடஃபர்டு அப்பொன்-ஏவன் (sturaṭafarṭu appoṉ-ēvaṉ)Stratford-on-Avon
Cite this entry
APA

Stratford-on-Avon. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Stratford-on-Avon

MLA

“Stratford-on-Avon.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Stratford-on-Avon. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Stratford-on-Avon,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Stratford-on-Avon.

Source: Stratford-on-Avon on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.