Bristol

American  

[bris-tl] / ˈbrɪs tl /

noun

1. a seaport in Avon, in southwestern England, on the Avon River near its confluence with the Severn estuary.

2. a city in central Connecticut.

3. a township in southeastern Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River.

4. a deepwater seaport in eastern Rhode Island.

5. a city in northeastern Tennessee, contiguous to but politically independent of Bristol, Virginia.

6. a city in southwestern Virginia, contiguous to but politically independent of Bristol, Tennessee.

7. a bi-state region comprising the twin cities of Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia.

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Bristol British  

/ ˈbrɪstəl /

noun

1. a port and industrial city in SW England, mainly in Bristol unitary authority, on the River Avon seven miles from its mouth on the Bristol Channel: a major port, trading with America, in the 17th and 18th centuries; the modern port consists chiefly of docks at Avonmouth and Portishead; noted for the Clifton Suspension Bridge (designed by I. K. Brunel, 1834) over the Avon gorge; Bristol university (1909) and University of the West of England (1992). Pop: 420 556 (2001)

2. a unitary authority in SW England, created in 1996 from part of Avon county. Pop: 391 500 (2003 est). Area: 110 sq km (42 sq miles)

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Example Sentences

Dott costs about £35 per month and gives users two free 30 minute e-bike rides per day in cities including Bath, Bristol and Glasgow.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

These cans contained fillets from four species collected over a 42-year span in the Gulf of Alaska and Bristol Bay.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

Harlequins reacted to the getting clarity on their coaching situation by beating Bristol in Cardiff, a measure of revenge for the Bears pooping their own stadium spectacular in December.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Zak Reid bought a flat at Wapping Wharf in Bristol in 2020 but decided to move to Clevedon because of rising service charges.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Truman is part of Bristol Township, referred to as the lower end of Levittown—a designation that applies both geographically and demographically.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove