Irish

[ ahy-rish ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Ireland, its inhabitants, or their language.

noun

1. the inhabitants of Ireland and their descendants elsewhere.
2. the aboriginal Celtic-speaking people of Ireland.
3. Also called Irish Gaelic. the Celtic language of Ireland in its historical or modern form. : Ir, Ir. Compare Middle Irish, Old Irish.
4. Irish English.
5. Irish whiskey.

Irish

/ ˈaɪrɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Ireland, its people, their Celtic language, or their dialect of English
2. informal.
   ludicrous or illogical

noun

1. the Irish
   functioning as plural the natives or inhabitants of Ireland
2. another name for Irish Gaelic

Sensitive Note

See Irish pennant.

Other Words From

• Irish·ly adverb
• anti-Irish adjective noun
• half-Irish adjective
• non-Irish adjective noun
• pre-Irish adjective
• pro-Irish adjective
• pseudo-Irish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Irish¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English Yrisse, Iris(c)h; compare Old English Īras people of Ireland (cognate with Old Norse Īrar ); -ish ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get one's Irish up, Informal. to become angry or outraged:

   Don't go getting your Irish up over a little matter like that.

More idioms and phrases containing Irish

see luck of the devil (Irish) .

Example Sentences

Nine months after U2 wrapped its 40-date residency at Sphere, the veteran Irish rock band is back at the dome-shaped venue just off the Las Vegas Strip.

From Los Angeles Times

The Irish Data Protection Commissioner has also previously fined Meta more than €1bn over mishandling people's data when transferring it between Europe and the United States.

From BBC

But the Prices were also raised by parents who were renowned in Irish Republican circles.

From Los Angeles Times

Where “Cross” might be said to have a matte finish, “The Day of the Jackal,” created by the Northern Irish novelist and screenwriter Ronan Bennett, is high-gloss.

From Los Angeles Times

The Premiership was cut from 13 clubs to 10 in the space of one season as Worcester Warriors, London Irish and Wasps all buckled under financial strain.

From BBC