bilingual

adjective

bi·​lin·​gual (ˌ)bī-ˈliŋ-gwəl 

 also  -gyə-wəl

1

: having or expressed in two languages

a bilingual document

an officially bilingual nation

2

: using or able to use two languages especially with equal fluency

bilingual in English and Japanese

3

: of or relating to bilingual education

bilingual noun

bilingually adverb

Examples of bilingual in a Sentence

Several of the employees are bilingual.

He is bilingual in English and Japanese.

She grew up in a bilingual community.

The town has an excellent bilingual education program.

Recent Examples on the Web

The drama’s bilingual cast also included Hong Jong-hyun and Anna Nakamura. —Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Over 500,000 bilingual phone calls to Latinos have been made since August, according to a Harris campaign official, with the help of grassroots groups that have hosted phone banks across battleground states. —Nidia Cavazos, CBS News, 1 Nov. 2024

As someone who’s bilingual like yourself, what’s your take on it? —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024

Former and current students who delivered speeches at Tuesday night's board meeting said that having instructors who are not bilingual can pose additional challenges to their learning experience. —Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin bilinguis, from bi- + lingua tongue — more at tongue

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bilingual

• bilingual education

Kids Definition

bilingual

adjective

bi·​lin·​gual (ˌ)bī-ˈliŋ-g(yə-)wəl 

1

: of, expressed in, or using two languages

a bilingual dictionary

2

: able to use two languages especially with fluency