List of words having different meanings in American and British English (A–L)
This is the List of words having different meanings in British and American English: A–L. For the second portion of the list, see.
- Asterisked meanings, though found chiefly in the specified region, also have some currency in the other dialect; other definitions may be recognised by the other as Briticisms or Americanisms respectively. Additional usage notes are provided when useful.
A
| Word | British English meanings | Meanings common to British and American English | American English meanings |
| AA | The Automobile Association | Alcoholics Anonymous | American Airlines |
| A&E | the accident and emergency department of a hospital | Arts & Entertainment | |
| accumulator | rechargeable battery a type of bet | one that accumulates, as a type of computer processor register or a hydraulic accumulator | |
| ace | good, excellent | a one in a suit of playing cards someone who is very good at something a winning serve in which the receiver does not touch the ball fighter pilot who has shot down at least 5 enemy aircraft an asexual person | to perform outstandingly *; esp., to achieve an A the best starting pitcher in a rotation on a baseball team |
| advert | a contraction of advertisement | to turn the attention to or refer to something | - |
| advocate | Scottish, also the Isle of Man, Channel Islands and South African lawyer who appears in higher courts | someone who supports or speaks for a particular position generic term for a lawyer to recommend or support | |
| air marshal | a senior air force officer * | an undercover law enforcement officer on board a commercial aircraft, also known as a sky marshal | |
| fashionable | with ice cream | ||
| allotment | a parcel of land in a community garden | the amount of something allocated to a particular person | |
| alternate | done or occurring by turns; every second, every other one that alternates with another | constituting an alternative, offering a choice "alternative", unconventional an alternative *; a substitute | |
| amber | orange-yellow traffic light | orange-yellow colour fossilised resin a material used in the construction of some tobacco pipes' stems female given name state of being oblivious to changing circumstances | |
| anæsthetist, anesthetist | physician trained to induce anaesthesia | someone who induces anesthesia. | a critical care experienced graduate level educated Registered Nurse who is nationally certified to induce anesthesia |
| anchor | a position in a tug of war team device for mooring ships by providing a firm fix to the seabed the last member of a relay team to compete | a type of radio or TV presenter. See news presenter for a description of the different roles of a newscaster, an American news anchor, and a British newsreader. A dowel or fastener, usually made of plastic, that enables a weight-bearing screw to be attached to a wall ; Rawlplug | |
| anorak | a parka a socially awkward person obsessively interested in something | hooded, rainproof outerwear that lacks a full-length zipper in the front | |
| apartment | suite of rooms set aside for a particular person, usu. rented housing unit in a larger building implying luxury | usu. rented housing unit in a larger building, regardless of luxury level – cf. s.v. condominium | |
| appropriate, appropriation | to take to oneself, to filch or misappropriate | to take | to dispense, to budget |
| Asian | originating from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka | originating from the continent of Asia | originating from East Asia or continental Southeast Asia |
| ass | donkey slow-witted or stupid person, often in combination unpleasant or unthinking person | buttocks ; also, by synecdoche, the person ; also anus sex a postpositive intensive badass: someone of formidable strength or skill, e.g. "such a badass guitar player" kick-ass: to beat up or beat, e.g. "I am going to kick his ass" or, more positively, something that beat everything else, e.g. "The opening band was kick-ass." someone acting inappropriately or offensively | |
| Sport comprising the events in track and field, cross country running, road running and racewalking | Athletic sports in general, | ||
| attorney | an agent or representative authorised to act on someone else's behalf main legal advisor to the government | a lawyer /advocate local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminals | |
| aubergine | the plant Solanum melongena, or the fruit thereof | an aubergine-like colour |