• Words with specific American meanings that have different meanings in British English and/or additional meanings common to both dialects (e.g. pants, crib) are to be found at List of words having different meanings in British and American English, as are compounds derived from such words (e.g. crib death). When such words are herein used or referenced, they are marked with the flag ^*.

• Asterisks (*) denote words and meanings having appreciable (that is, not occasional) currency in British English, but nonetheless distinctive of American English for their relatively greater frequency in American speech and writing. Remarkably, Americanisms are increasingly common in British English, and many that were not widely used some decades ago, are now so (e.g. regular in the sense of "regular coffee").

• American spelling is consistently used throughout the article, except when explicitly referencing British terms.

See also

• List of British words not widely used in the United States
• List of words having different meanings in British and American English
• American and British English spelling differences
• American and British English pronunciation differences

0-9

101 : (pronounced "one-oh-one") label for introductory college courses ("English 101"), figuratively denoting something intended for beginners ("real estate 101")
U.S. Highway 101 (used with "the" in Southern California)

40 (forty) : a 40-acre parcel of land, specifically one sixteenth of a section, constituting the smallest unit of agricultural land commonly surveyed ("back 40," "front 40"); "back 40" also refers to an undeveloped plot of land (as on a farm, ranch, etc.) of unspecified size

401(k) : (pronounced "four-oh-one-kay") a type of employer-sponsored retirement plan, named after the section of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code that established it. See article

411 : (pronounced "four-one-one"; colloquial) information about something (from 4-1-1, directory assistance number)

49er (forty-niner) : a person who went to California to seek a fortune in the 1849 California Gold Rush; (also niner) a member of the San Francisco 49ers football team

A

acclimate : (verb) (UK usually: acclimatise, acclimatize)

affirmative action : (UK: positive discrimination)

ahold : (orig. dialectal) hold, grip; used in phrases such as "get ahold of," "take ahold of," "grab ahold of," etc.

airplane : fixed-wing aircraft. Alteration of UK aeroplane, probably influenced by aircraft.

AMBER alert : a missing person alert. Backronym for "America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response," it was created as a legacy to 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle in a parking lot in Arlington, Texas, and then brutally murdered

amtrac : Landing Vehicle Tracked (not to be confused with Amtrak, the railroad passenger corporation)

anchorman/anchorwoman : news broadcaster, news presenter (US also anchor ^*, news anchor; UK: newsreader)

arugula, rugola : the herb also known as rocket or garden rocket

aside from *: apart from (both phrases are common in US usage)

automobile *: (UK prefers motorcar as the formal term; car [DM is used in both UK & US)

B

baby carriage : pushable vehicle for transporting babies, also called buggy or regionally baby coach (UK: perambulator, pram, pushchair: for the type that an older baby sits rather than lies in)

in back of : behind ("She was standing there in back of my chair" -- Bob Dylan). Complementary to in front of; used to be objected to

backhoe : a piece of excavating equipment (UK usually JCB, genericized trademark)

backyard : yard ^* behind the house (UK: back garden)

ballpark : a baseball stadium; a range of approximation or accuracy ("in the ballpark"; "a ballpark figure")

Band-Aid *: (trademark) bandage for minor wounds, (UK: plaster ^*); also, a makeshift solution

barnyard *: a farmyard

bayou : (from Louisiana French) an often marshy slow-moving minor watercourse, usually located in a low-lying area (as in the Mississippi River delta region of the southern United States)

bedroom community : a commuter town or suburb (UK: dormitory ^*)

in behalf of : on behalf of; the two phrases are often used interchangeably, although traditionally on behalf of means "in support of" and in behalf of means "in the interest of." In behalf of is obsolescent in UK usage (where behalf of, without a preposition, is also found), but still current in US, although not as common as on behalf of

blacktop : pavement ^* composed of asphalt concrete; also a verb ("to blacktop a parking lot") (UK: compare tarmac)

blinders : (on a horse) (UK: blinkers)

boardwalk : a walkway usually made of planking, typically along a beach (as that of Atlantic City)

booger : (slang) a piece of nasal mucus (UK: bogie)

boondocks : (also the boonies) rough country; a very rural location or town; backwoods. From Tagalog.

boondoggle : (see article)

Botts' dot : see raised pavement marker (UK: cat's eye)

breadbox : (UK usually bread bin)

broil : to cook food with high heat with the heat applied directly to the food (UK: grill). Apparently first used by Chaucer.

brownstone : a type of residential building found in New York and other large cities

bubbler : a drinking fountain (used especially, but not exclusively, in Wisconsin and some parts of New England); originally, the term referred to the freshwater drum

buddy, bud : a friend; also used as a term of address (UK similar: mate)

bullhorn : a megaphone (UK: loud hailer)

burglarize : to carry out a burglary (UK: burgle; burgle is very rare in US, and burglarize virtually nonexistent in UK)

busboy : junior restaurant worker assisting waiting staff, table clearer, water pourer etc.

butte : an isolated hill with steep sides and a small flat top

C

caboose : a train car attached usually to the rear mainly for the crew's use (UK: ''guard's van' or brake van'); also (colloquial) the buttocks

canola : a trademarked variety of rapeseed

carhop : someone serving food at a drive-in, often on rollerskates

catercorner : (or catercornered, catacorner, kitty-corner, catty-corner, etc.) (adverb) diagonally, diagonally opposite ("The house looks catercorner to mine"). Catercorner is the original form (from cater = four), but the forms kitty-corner and catty-corner (folk etymology) are usual in speech, the former especially in the North and the latter in the Midland and South. Sometimes (dialectal, regional) also kitty/catty wampus/wumpus (unclearly derived), which can also mean "awry."

central air : central air conditioning

ChapStick™ : (genericized trademark) a lip balm (also used in UK)

checkers : (also Canada & Australia) a popular board game (UK & New Zealand: draughts)

charge account : in a store or shop (UK: credit account)

checking account : the type of bank account used for drawing checks; distinguished from savings account. Spelled chequing account in Canada. (UK: current account or cheque account)

chifforobe : a combination of wardrobe and chest of drawers (from chiffonier + wardrobe)

chutzpah *: nerve, cheek, gall or effrontery (from Yiddish)

cilantro : the herb coriander

cookout : informal meal cooked and eaten outdoors, a cross between a picnic and a barbecue

cotton candy : spun sugar often sold at fairs (UK, NZ: candy floss; Australia: fairy floss)

counterclockwise : (UK: anti-clockwise)

coveralls : a one-piece outer protective garment (UK: overall, boiler suit)

critter : (informal) a creature; an animal (as a horse in the South or a bull in the North); often used jocularly (as in "congresscritter," a congressperson); sometimes a term of endearment

crapshoot : risky and uncertain venture; from a dice game

cuss : (from "curse") to swear; (as noun) a cantankerous person

D

diaper : (UK: nappy)

dime : a 10-cent coin; five-and-dime, dime store, a store selling cheap merchandise; nickel^*-and-dime, insignificant; a dime a dozen, so abundant as to be worth little; on a dime, in a small space ("turn on a dime") or immediately ("stop on a dime.") In Britain, the old sixpence, a small coin worth the equivalent of 2.5p, was formerly used in similar expressions before decimal currency was introduced in the early 1970s.

direct deposit : a method of payment by bank transfer, similar to European giro

dishrag : a cloth for washing dishes; a dishcloth

dish towel : a towel for drying dishes (UK: tea towel)

downspout : pipe for carrying rainwater from a gutter to the ground (UK: drainpipe)

downtown : (noun, adv., adj.) (in, to, toward, or related to) either the lower section or the business center of a city or town—compare uptown, see article for New York City usage; (noun) in basketball, far from the basket (as outside the three-point line)—used of a shot

driver license, driver's license : (UK, Hong Kong, Singapore: driving licence; Canada, Australia, New Zealand: driver's licence)

drugstore : a pharmacy, or a store selling candy, magazines, etc. along with medicines (UK approx.: chemist ^*)

drywall : gypsum board, plasterboard, or any process that builds interior walls without the use of water

Dude : A male

Dumpster™ : (in danger of becoming genericized) large trash receptacle (UK approx.: skip ^*); to dumpster-dive, to rummage through a Dumpster

E

eggplant : the plant Solanum melongena (UK: aubergine; "eggplant" is common in the Commonwealth outside the United Kingdom, however, due to the fact that a 19th century fad for using French culinary terms never caught on in the colonies).

English muffin : (see article)

eminent domain : the power of the government to take private property for public use (similar to UK, Ire, NZ: compulsory purchase; Aus: compulsory acquisition; Can, S.Af.: expropriation)

envision : to envisage

every which way *: in or toward all directions; also, in a disordered or irregular way ("Documents scattered every which way")

expressway : (see article)

exurb : (see article)

F

fanny pack : pouch-like bag that ties or snaps around the wearer's waist (UK: bum bag). See also fanny in List of words having different meanings in British and American English and note fanny is vulgar in UK.

faucet : water outlet (UK & US sometimes tap ^*)

flack: a publicist or press agent

flatware : knives, spoons, and forks (as opposed to holloware); (UK usually cutlery ^*, although flatware is used in the UK antiques trade as a specialist word)

freeway : (see article)

freshman *: a first-year student in college or high school (also fresher in UK)

(French) fries : pieces of potato that have been deep-fried (UK distinguishes between thick chips ^* and thin fries)

G

gasoline : (esp. in the past also spelled gasolene; abbreviated gas) (UK: petrol)

gee-whiz : as an interjection, a euphemism for "Jesus"; as an adjective, denotes something characterized by or meant to cause excitement or sensation ("gee-whiz technology"; "a gee-whiz attitude")

general delivery : (UK: poste restante)

green thumb : (UK: green fingers)

gridiron : field of play for American football

grifter *: a con artist, transient swindler, or professional gambler

gum band : (regional) rubber band

H

half bath : a bathroom ^* that lacks a shower or bathtub (i.e., a bathroom which lacks a place to actually bathe.) Equivalent to a British W.C.

hickey : temporary mark or bruise on one's skin resulting from kissing or sucking; love bite

highball : (see article)

hobo : (see article)

(hominy) grits : coarsely ground corn boiled for breakfast, especially in the Southern U.S.

play hooky : to play truant from school; to cut class (UK also: skive, bunk off)

horseback riding : simply horse riding in the UK

howdy : (short for how do you do) casual greeting that originated in the Southern States, but understood everywhere else, although considered outdated

HVAC : Heating + Ventilation + Air Conditioning

I

intimate apparel : Fancy name for underwear, used especially in commercials.

J

Jell-o : (trademark) gelatin dessert (UK: jelly ^*)

john : (slang) a toilet; also, the client of a prostitute

John Doe : defendant or victim (as in a lawsuit), or a person whose identity is unknown or is intended to be anonymous; also, an average man; compare John Q. Public. The female equivalent is Jane Doe.

John Hancock : a signature (from the name of the President of the Second Continental Congress, who signed first the United States Declaration of Independence) ("put your John Hancock here")

John Q. Public : the common man, typical member of the general public. Also stated as Joe Blow.

K

kitty-corner : see catercorner

L

ladybug : lady beetle, ladybird

learner's permit : a restricted license for a person learning to drive, who has not yet passed the necessary driver's test (rules vary from state to state) (UK: provisional licence)

left field : a source of unexpected or illogical questions, ideas, etc. ("that proposal came out of left field"); for the baseball sense see left fielder

letter carrier : a person who delivers mail to residences and businesses; also mail carrier, mailman (UK: postman, postwoman)

license plate, license tag : vehicle registration plate (UK: number plate)

M

mail carrier, mailman : a person who delivers mail to residences and businesses; also letter carrier (UK: postman, postwoman)

math : mathematics (UK: maths)

maven *: (from Yiddish) an expert

midsize : medium size; when applied to a car, it means (what most British drivers would consider) large

Miranda : (Miranda warning) the warning (usually "You have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." etc.) given to criminal suspects when arrested; (Miranda rights) the right of a criminal suspect when arrested; hence mirandize, to recite the Miranda warning to (a criminal suspect)

mom, mommy, mama, mamma, momma *: mother (UK often: mum^*)

mom-and-pop : single-family operated small business ("a mom-and-pop store")

mortician : an undertaker, funeral director

N

narc : law enforcement narcotics agent; but 'to narc on' someone is to inform on them to an authority figure (This term is also used in New Zealand)

newsdealer : person or shop that sells newspapers (UK: newsagent)

New York minute : see New York minute (time)

normalcy : normality

O

off of *: (preposition) off (very common in speech, although objected to by some; nonstandard, chiefly dialectal in UK)

oftentimes *: often (archaic in Britain but colloquial in America, especially clause-initially)

ornery : irritable, crotchety, cranky (from ordinary)

ouster : ousting, overthrow ("the ouster of a regime"; "the ouster of the CEO")

outage *: temporary suspension of operation ("a power outage", UK: powercut); the amount of something lost in storage or transportation

P

pacifier : (UK: dummy comforter [DM)

pantyhose : close fitting coverings of the body from the waist to the feet, most frequently worn by women (UK: tights)

paper route : a regular series of newspaper deliveries (UK: paper round)

parking lot : a usually outside area for the parking of automotive vehicles (UK: car park)

penny-ante : (adj.) petty, insignificant -- from penny ante, poker played for a very low ante

Popsicle : (trademark in danger of becoming genericized) (UK: ice lolly; Australia: Icypole, New Zealand: Ice block, sometimes popsicle)

plastic wrap : polymer material for sealing food items (UK: cling-film, Australia, New Zealand: Glad-Wrap (trademark in danger of becoming genericized))

pre-authorized payment/withdrawal : (UK: direct debit (variable amount)/standing order (fixed amount))

public holiday : (UK: bank holiday, although public holiday is also used, more formally, when referring to New Year's Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day). See Federal holiday

R

raincheck *: (see article)

raised pavement marker : commonly called reflector or Botts' dot (UK: cat's eye)

rappel : to descend on a rope (UK: abseil)

Realtor: (trademark) a real estate agent (UK: estate ^* agent), member of the National Association of Realtors. See also real estate broker

recision : a cancellation ("This bill would authorize the recision of the adult day health care license"). Now rare in the UK; a different word from rescission

roil : to render muddy by stirring up the dregs of; as, to roil wine, cider, etc., in casks or bottles; to roil a spring; also, to disquiet or disturb

roustabout : an unskilled laborer, especially at an oil field, at a circus, or on a ship

row house : (UK: terraced house)

rutabaga : the turnip Brassica napus napobrassica (UK: swede)

S

Saran wrap : (Saran is a trademark) see plastic wrap (Australia, New Zealand: Glad Wrap)

sawbuck : (see article)

savings account : bank account on which interest is paid; distinguished from checking/cheque account. (UK: deposit account)

scallion *: also used in Ireland; known as spring onion in Great Britain

shill *: (see article). Recently popularized by eBay ("shill bidding")

shuck : the husk of an ear of Indian corn, an oyster shell, etc.; used in plural to mean something worthless or as an interjection ("shucks!"); (verb) to remove the shuck; also, to discard, get rid of ("I shucked my coat")

sidewalk : usually paved path for pedestrian traffic, often constructed of concrete (UK: pavement footpath [DM). A sidewalk superintendent is someone spectating a construction or demolition job

sneaker : (usually pl.) a form of footwear (UK: trainers; plimsoll, Australia, New Zealand: runners)

soda fountain : (see article)

sophomore : a second-year college or high school student; (adj.) the second in a series; hence sophomoric, conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature

spyglass : a telescope or set of lenses used to observe subjects at distance

station wagon : (also Australia, New Zealand) automobile with extended rear cargo area (UK: estate (car))

steam shovel : a large mechanical excavator

stickshift, stick : (car with) manual transmission, as opposed to an automatic (UK: gear stick)

stool pigeon, stoolie : police informer (UK: grass)

stoplight : a traffic signal, or a vehicle brake light

streetcar : vehicle on rails for passenger transportation (q.v.) usually within a city; also called trolley ^* or trolley car if electrically powered by means of a trolley (UK: tram)

stroller : vehicle for baby transportation featuring the child in a sitting position, usually facing forward (UK: pushchair, buggy ^*; Australia, New Zealand: pram)

T

taffy : a type of chewy candy; see taffy (candy)

tailpipe : exhaust pipe

teeter(-totter), teeterboard : a seesaw

telecast : to broadcast by television

teleprompter : (see article) (UK: compare autocue)

thumbtack : short nail or pin with a large, rounded metal head (UK: drawing pin)

trackless trolley : a trolleybus

transportation : (UK: transport)

trash can : (UK: dustbin, rubbish bin)

turnpike : (see article)

turn signal : direction-indicator lights (US also directionals; UK usually indicators; US & UK also blinkers)

two-bit : literally, worth 25 cents (a bit is an eighth of a dollar); figuratively, worth very little, insignificant (informal)

two cents, two cents' worth: an opinion, a piece of one's mind (as in, "I'm gonna go down there and give him my two cents") - (UK similar: two pence, two penneth, or tu'pence worth)

U

undershirt : an upper undergarment with no collar, and with short or no sleeves, worn next to the skin under a shirt (UK: singlet, vest ^*)

upscale : relating to goods targeted at high-income consumers; upmarket

uptown : (noun, adj., adv.) (in, to, toward, or related to) either the upper section or the residential district of a city; e.g. in Manhattan, New York City the term refers to the northern end of Manhattan, generally speaking, north of 59th Street; see also Uptown, Minneapolis; Uptown, Chicago; Uptown New Orleans; compare downtown

V

vacationer : someone taking a vacation ^* (UK: holidaymaker)

W

washcloth, washrag : (UK: flannel, facecloth)

weatherization : (UK: weatherproofing)

wetback : (offensive, disparaging) an illegal immigrant from Mexico or Latin America. So called as they are presumed to have swum the Rio Grande river to have entered the USA

windshield: the front window of an automobile (UK: windscreen)

woodsy : abundant in trees, suggestive of woods; woody

X

Xing : (on road signs) crossing (as in "Ped Xing", pedestrian crossing)

Y

Y'all, ya'll : (regional — Southern American, African-American, and Appalachian) contraction of You all, used as second-person dual or plural pronoun ("Y'all come back now, ya hear!")

yellow light : as in the color at a stoplight (q.v.) or traffic lights. In the UK, this is referred to as an amber light. In the UK, the red and amber light together immediately in advance of the green (giving a light sequence of 1.red, 2.red and amber (together), 3.green, 4.amber (alone), 5.red).

yinz or yunz : 1. (regional — Pittsburgh & western Pennsylvania) plural you, as in: "Yinz are really annoying."

2. (regional — Southern U.S.) you all or y'all (sometimes used without a verb, as in, "Yinz late again", or "Yinz stupid")

Z

zee : pronunciation of the last letter of the alphabet (UK, New Zealand, Canada, Australia: zed)

zinger : a witty, often caustic remark; something supposed to cause surprise or shock

ZIP code : (for Zone Improvement Plan) the postal code used by the United States Postal Service (UK & Australia equivalent: postcode; New Zealand uses post code or postcode, Canada has postal code India PIN code for Postal Index Number)

zucchini : (also Canada & Australia) the plant Cucurbita pepo (UK & New Zealand: courgette)

Lists of English words | Lists of English phrases | American and British English differences