Irish

noun

ˈī-rish How to pronounce Irish (audio)
1
plural in construction : natives or inhabitants of Ireland or their descendants especially when of Celtic speech or culture
2
a
: the Celtic language of Ireland especially as used since the later medieval period
b
: English spoken by the Irish
3
: irish whiskey
Irish adjective

Examples of Irish in a Sentence

How many Irish are there in England?
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.
Lehmann was reminded of the conversation after visiting Vicuña’s solo show at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) last November. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Midleton Very Rare Irish Chestnut Edition is available now in limited numbers at specialty retailers around the globe (SRP $490). — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2026 The Fighting Irish edged closer to the record of 21 consecutive double-digit victory margins set by Army (1944-46). — Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 The Irish only allowed 202 yards of total offense against Stanford. — ABC News, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Irish

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English *Īrisc, from Īras Irishmen, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish Ériu Ireland

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Phrases Containing Irish

Browse Nearby Words

iris green
Irish
Irish alphabet
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

Irish

noun
ˈī(ə)r-ish How to pronounce Irish (audio)
1
Irish plural : the people of Ireland
2
: the Celtic language of Ireland
Irish adjective
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