Brexit

[ breg-zit, brek-sit ]

noun

1. the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from membership in the European Union.
2. the nonbinding national referendum in 2016 that resulted in a vote for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Brexit¹

First recorded in 2012; (originally also spelled Brixit , referencing Britain's possible withdrawal); Br(itain) ( def ) or Br(itish) ( def ) + exit ¹( def ); probably patterned on Grexit ( def ), which dates from earlier that year

Example Sentences

There are the adjustments to farm subsidies being made after Brexit.

From BBC

"Farming is getting harder," he says, blaming the fluctuating milk price, the after effects of Brexit and the difficulty in finding good staff.

From BBC

One reason the report cites for this lack of action were the competing demands of Operation Yellowhammer, the UK government’s contingency planning for a no-deal Brexit.

From BBC

But the UK's inertia cannot be blamed on Brexit alone.

From BBC

The opposing argument put forward by the last government is that Brexit left the UK more nimble in other respects, such as stockpiling medicines and rolling out vaccines.

From BBC