american english: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighFormal, Neutral, Technical
Quick answer
What does “american english” mean?
The variety of the English language spoken and written primarily in the United States.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The variety of the English language spoken and written primarily in the United States.
The set of dialects, vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and pronunciation conventions that characterize English as used in the United States, often contrasted with British English and other national varieties.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term itself is used contrastively with 'British English'. In the UK, the term 'American English' is standard. In the US, the term is often used in academic/contrastive contexts; domestically, it's simply called 'English'.
Connotations
In linguistics: neutral descriptor. In general discourse: can carry connotations of cultural identity, modernity, or linguistic influence (positive or negative depending on context).
Frequency
High frequency in academic, publishing, and language-teaching contexts. Lower frequency in everyday US speech where 'English' is assumed.
Grammar
How to Use “american english” in a Sentence
contrast X with American Englishstudy American Englishadapt into American EnglishVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “american english” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The text was Americanised for the overseas edition.
American English
- The software company Americanized its user interface.
adverb
British English
- The phrase is used American Englishly in that context.
American English
- He spelled the word American Englishly, with a 'z' instead of an 's'.
adjective
British English
- She has an American English textbook.
American English
- He took an American English pronunciation course.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in localization and global communication strategies: 'The manual was translated into American English for the US market.'
Academic
Used in linguistics and language studies: 'Her thesis examines vowel shifts in 20th-century American English.'
Everyday
Used when discussing language differences: 'I watch films in American English with subtitles to learn.'
Technical
Used in software localization and dictionary tagging: 'Set your spellchecker to American English.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “american english”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “american english”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “american english”
- Using 'American English' to refer to any informal or slang US speech (it encompasses formal standards too).
- Capitalizing both words only when referring to the specific variety as a proper noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a major national variety of the English language, mutually intelligible with other varieties like British English.
General American (GA) or Standard American English (SAE), though it is less rigidly defined than British Received Pronunciation.
Due to historical separation, independent development, influence from immigrant languages, and deliberate standardization efforts (e.g., Noah Webster's dictionaries).
It depends on your goals, location, and exposure. American English is more prevalent globally in media and business, but both are widely understood.
The variety of the English language spoken and written primarily in the United States.
American english is usually formal, neutral, technical in register.
American english: in British English it is pronounced /əˌmer.ɪ.kən ˈɪŋ.ɡlɪʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌmer.ə.kən ˈɪŋ.ɡlɪʃ/ or /əˌmɛr.ə.kən ˈɪŋ.ɡlɪʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “as American as apple pie”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the Statue of Liberty holding a dictionary instead of a torch—'American English' lights the way for US language.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A TERRITORY (e.g., 'the landscape of American English', 'mapping dialect boundaries').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key feature of American English spelling?