British

Definition

British refers to anything of, relating to, or denoting Great Britain or the United Kingdom; as a noun, it denotes a person from Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Its plural form as a noun is the British.

Parts of Speech

• Adjective
• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA: /ˈbrɪt.ɪʃ/
• Respelling: BRIT-ish

British English

• IPA: /ˈbrɪt.ɪʃ/
• Respelling: BRIT-ish

Etymology

Late Old English Bryttisc “of the Britons,” from Bryttas (the Britons), from Latin Britanni, inhabitants of Britannia (Britain).

Derivatives

• Britishness (noun)
• Briton (noun)
• Britannic (adjective)
• Anglo-British (adjective)

Synonyms

• Britannic (adjective)
• UK (adjective, noun)
• Anglo- (prefix)

Antonyms

• foreign
• non-British

Usage

"She enjoys reading British novels."

"Many British citizens hold dual nationality."

Related Terms

• Britain: The island comprising England, Scotland, and Wales.
• United Kingdom: The sovereign state including Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
• England: A country within the UK.
• Scottish: Relating to Scotland.
• Welsh: Relating to Wales.

Detailed Definitions

Adjective

• Of or relating to Great Britain or the United Kingdom – describing origin, culture, or attributes associated with the UK.
  • Example: "British cuisine varies from hearty stews to afternoon tea."
• Denoting the variant of the English language used in Britain – distinguishing from other forms such as American or Australian English.
  • Example: "She prefers British spelling like 'colour' over 'color.'"

Noun

• A person who is a native or citizen of the United Kingdom – an individual holding British nationality.
  • Example: "The British love celebrating on Bonfire Night."
• The people of Great Britain collectively – the population considered as a group.
  • Example: "The British have a rich tradition of parliamentary democracy."