Skip to main content
British people

British people

18 1.0
People who live in Great Britain or whose family comes from there
  • noun
translation icon : británico
  • Why has he failed the British people on both these counts?

I'd like to see British people being put first.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • A little over six months ago, the British people voted for change.

  • It is time for the British people to have their say.

  • This is just what British people do, sit in the sun.

  • I think British people have a very unique sense of humour.

  • We need to regain the right for British people to make British laws.

  • He made speeches giving the British people reason to hope.

  • The question before the House today is how we keep the British people safe from the threat posed by ISIL.

  • She wants the world and the British people to see how this Government deals with terrorism.

  • Lee says he was inspired by the British people who had just endured a devastating war.

    Blog text (25)
  • The British people are known for their love of tea and football.

Synonyms

Brit
vsBritish people
  • Informal
280 6.5

A person from Britain

is the neutral term used in formal or general contexts for the same people
British
vsBritish people
129 1.3

People from Great Britain who live there or share its culture

is about individuals native to or descended from Great Britain
Briton
vsBritish people
19 3.9

A person who lives in Great Britain

also covers people of British descent, not only current inhabitants
Britisher
vsBritish people
  • Archaic
1 8.3

A person from Great Britain

has identical meaning but is a different word form
Brits
vsBritish people
  • Informal
4.4

People from Britain, like England, Scotland or Wales

is the neutral term for individuals born in or descended from Great Britain

Surface Forms

Morphology

British + people

The meaning 'the people who are natives or inhabitants of Great Britain' is directly and compositionally derived from 'British' (denoting nationality) + 'people' (persons). This adjective+noun pattern is a basic, cross-linguistic noun phrase construction and would be immediately understood by a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

British people comes from the name of the island Britain and simply means the people who live there or come from there. Long ago, visitors called the islanders 'painted people' because some painted their bodies, and that clear image helps you remember that 'British people' means 'the people of Britain'.