Briton

noun

Brit·​on ˈbri-tᵊn How to pronounce Briton (audio)
1
: a member of one of the peoples inhabiting Britain prior to the Anglo-Saxon invasions
2
: a native or subject of Great Britain
especially : englishman

Examples of Briton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, not every wealthy Briton sees higher taxes as a reason to pack up and leave. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026 To date, Briton Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos are the only pair to have done so, winning three back-to-back majors in 2014-15. — Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 The Briton was trying to overtake Hamilton around the outside when the Ferrari clipped the rear of his Mercedes and sent him spinning into the gravel. — Yara Elshebiny, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 And austerity cost the average Briton half a year of life expectancy from 2010 to 2019, according to a study by the London School of Economics. — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for Briton

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Breton, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin Britton-, Britto, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh Brython

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Briton was in the 13th century

Rhymes for Briton

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Browse Nearby Words

Brito-
Briton
Brit-pop
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Cite this Entry

“Briton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Briton. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Briton

noun
Brit·​on ˈbrit-ən How to pronounce Briton (audio)
1
: a member of one of the peoples living in Britain before the Anglo-Saxon invasions
2
: britisher

More from Merriam-Webster on Briton

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Briton

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