Differences between Differences between British and US EnglishBritish and US English

Comparing Webster’s Comparing Webster’s Dictionary with the OEDDictionary with the OED

Catherine G. HamiltonCatherine G. Hamilton

Only in Webster’sOnly in Webster’s

bangbang n. (usually plural)n. (usually plural) - a fringe of hair cut short (as - a fringe of hair cut short (as

across the forehead)across the forehead) restroomrestroom n.n. - a room or suite of rooms that contains - a room or suite of rooms that contains

sinks and toiletssinks and toilets

sophomoresophomore n.n. – a student in the second year of high – a student in the second year of high school or collegeschool or college

sneakersneaker n.n. - a sports shoe with a pliable rubber sole - a sports shoe with a pliable rubber sole

sidewalksidewalk n.n. - - a paved walk at the side of a road or streeta paved walk at the side of a road or street

Only in the OEDOnly in the OED

nappynappy n.n. – a (generally square) piece of towelling or other – a (generally square) piece of towelling or other absorbent material which is wrapped around the waist (usually absorbent material which is wrapped around the waist (usually of a baby or toddler), drawn up between the legs, and fastened, of a baby or toddler), drawn up between the legs, and fastened, for the purpose of retaining urine and faeces. Also: a disposable for the purpose of retaining urine and faeces. Also: a disposable equivalent made from cotton wool, etc., with a waterproof equivalent made from cotton wool, etc., with a waterproof backing.backing.

cookercooker nn. - a stove or other apparatus designed for cooking. - a stove or other apparatus designed for cooking

dummydummy nn. – a rubber teat put into a baby's mouth to soothe . – a rubber teat put into a baby's mouth to soothe it.it.

nicknick v.v. to steal to steal

dodgydodgy adjadj. - of poor quality, unreliable; questionable, dubious. - of poor quality, unreliable; questionable, dubious

chemist, chemist, n.n.

Shared meaning:Shared meaning:

One trained in chemistryOne trained in chemistry

British meaning: One who deals in medicinal drugs.

(US: pharmacist, drugstore)

caravan, caravan, nn..Shared meanings:Shared meanings:

1. A group of travelers journeying 1. A group of travelers journeying together through desert or hostile together through desert or hostile

regionsregions2. A group of vehicles traveling in a file 2. A group of vehicles traveling in a file

British meaning: a house on wheels, e.g. the travelling house of gipsies, a showman, or (according to recent fashion) a party on a pleasure tour; one of the covered vehicles of a travelling menagerie, etc. Now freq. one able to be towed by a motor car and used as a stationary dwelling (esp. while on holiday).

(US: trailer)

redundant, redundant, n.n.Shared meaning:Shared meaning:

Exceeding what is needed or Exceeding what is needed or normal normal

British meaning: no longer needed at work; unemployed because of reorganization, mechanization, change in demand, etc.

(US: Fired)

brilliant, brilliant, adj.adj.Shared meanings:Shared meanings:

1. very bright 1. very bright 2. striking, distinctive 2. striking, distinctive

3. very intelligent3. very intelligent

British meaning: (colloquial) amazing, fantastic

(US: Awesome)

revise, revise, v.v.Shared meaning:Shared meaning:

To look over something To look over something written in order to correct or written in order to correct or

improve improve

British meaning: to look over or examine again

(US: study)

regular, regular, adjadj..Shared meaning:Shared meaning:

Recurring or repeated at fixed Recurring or repeated at fixed times times

US meaning: conforming to the normal or usual manner or inflection

(British: standard, normal, medium)

store, store, n.n.Shared meaning:Shared meaning:

A large retail business establishment, a A large retail business establishment, a place where merchandise is kept in place where merchandise is kept in

abundance, eg. department store, chain abundance, eg. department store, chain storestore

US meaning: any retail business establishment

(British: shop)

trash, trash, n.n.Shared meaning:Shared meaning:

That which is broken, snapped, or That which is broken, snapped, or lopped off anything in preparing it for lopped off anything in preparing it for

use; broken or torn piecesuse; broken or torn pieces

US meanings:

1. something of little worth

2. empty or disparaging talk

3. a worthless person

(British: rubbish)

pudding, pudding, n.n.Shared meaning:Shared meaning:

A sweet course following the A sweet course following the main course of a meal, main course of a meal,

‘afters’ (dessert).‘afters’ (dessert).

US meaning: A soft, spongy, or thick creamy dessert

(British: ?)

Morphology DifferencesMorphology Differences

US EnglishUS English British EnglishBritish English

acclimateacclimate acclimatizeacclimatize

airplaneairplane aeroplaneaeroplane

burglarizeburglarize burgleburgle

cusscuss cursecurse

envisionenvision envisageenvisage

ladybugladybug ladybirdladybird

mom/mommymom/mommy mum/mummymum/mummy

normalcynormalcy normalitynormality

mathmath mathsmaths

Spelling DifferencesSpelling DifferencesUS EnglishUS English British EnglishBritish English

aluminumaluminum aluminiumaluminium

mustachemustache moustachemoustache

yogurtyogurt yoghurtyoghurt

checkcheck chequecheque

graygray greygrey

jewelryjewelry jewelleryjewellery

colorcolor colourcolour

favoritefavorite favouritefavourite

neighborneighbor neighbourneighbour

centercenter centrecentre