Scottish

1 of 2

adjective

Scot·​tish ˈskä-tish How to pronounce Scottish (audio)
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Scotland, Scots, or the Scots
Scottishness
ˈskä-tish-nəs How to pronounce Scottish (audio)
noun

Scottish

2 of 2

noun

: scots

Examples of Scottish in a Sentence

Adjective He spoke with a Scottish accent. Robert Burns was a great Scottish poet.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Last summer The Athletic reported that Scottish side Rangers had made an offer to loan Rak-Sakyi with a potential obligation buy worth up to £10m rejected by Palace, who sought a fee closer to the £20m Ipswich Town paid Chelsea for Omari Hutchinson. — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The royal family has spent summers at the Scottish estate since the reign of Queen Victoria, with family members traditionally hunting, fishing and horseback riding there. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
The boy was then taken to Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center by ambulance and received initial care there before being flown to Atlanta’s Scottish Rite Hospital for further treatment. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026 Summer in the Scottish Highlands is usually the retreat where the British royal family seeks privacy and rest. — Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Scottish

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Scottes Scotsmen

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1759, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Scottish was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing Scottish

Browse Nearby Words

scotting
Scottish
Scottish asphodel
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scottish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Scottish. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Scottish

1 of 2 adjective
Scot·​tish ˈskät-ish How to pronounce Scottish (audio)
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Scotland, the people of Scotland, or the Scots language

Scottish

2 of 2 noun
: scots entry 2
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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