meredith: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Neutral
Quick answer
What does “meredith” mean?
A traditional Welsh and English given name of Celtic origin, now used primarily as a personal name.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A traditional Welsh and English given name of Celtic origin, now used primarily as a personal name.
The name can be used for both males (historically more common) and females (increasingly common in the 20th-21st centuries). It may also appear in proper nouns (e.g., Meredith College, Lake Meredith).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, Meredith is traditionally a male name (especially in Wales). In the US, it is predominantly a female name, though unisex usage exists.
Connotations
UK/Wales: traditional, masculine, Celtic heritage. US: often feminine, professional, sometimes perceived as upscale or academic.
Frequency
Moderately common as a given name in both regions, but with reversed gender association.
Grammar
How to Use “meredith” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] + verb (e.g., Meredith arrived).[Determiner] + Meredith + 's (possessive) + noun (e.g., Meredith's proposal).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meredith” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb.)
American English
- (Not used as a verb.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- (Not used as a standard adjective.)
American English
- (Not used as a standard adjective.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in professional contexts as a colleague or client's name (e.g., 'I'll forward this to Meredith in Legal.').
Academic
Appears as an author name, a faculty member, or in institutional names.
Everyday
Primarily used to refer to a person (e.g., 'Meredith is picking up the kids.').
Technical
Not applicable in technical fields unless as a proper noun (e.g., a software package or geographic feature named Meredith).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meredith”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meredith”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meredith”
- Misspelling as 'Meridith' or 'Meredeth'.
- Incorrectly assuming it must be a surname.
- Using it with an article (e.g., 'the Meredith' – incorrect unless part of a specific title).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used for both, but traditionally male in Wales and predominantly female in the United States.
It is of Welsh origin, derived from the Old Welsh name 'Maredudd', likely meaning 'great lord' or 'sea lord'.
Yes, it can also function as a family name (surname), as in the novelist George Meredith.
It is typically pronounced /ˈmɛr.ə.dɪθ/ with the stress on the first syllable in both British and American English.
A traditional Welsh and English given name of Celtic origin, now used primarily as a personal name.
Meredith is usually formal / neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(No established idioms)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Meredith starts with 'Mer' like 'merit' – think of someone with merit.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTOTYPICAL HUMAN ENTITY (as a personal name).
Practice
Quiz
How is 'Meredith' primarily used in English?