100 words with different meanings in British and American English

Of all the differences between English in Britain and the United States, the most interesting and important are words which are used in both places but with different (and sometimes even opposite) meanings. This list gives 100 such words and expressions arranged A to Z, from well-known ones such as “pants” to less famous ones such as “boob tube”. 

1. appropriation – misappropriating – dispensing money
2. (British) Asian/ Asian (American) – someone whose family comes from South Asia – someone whose family comes from East Asia
3. athlete – someone who does track and field events – a sportsman (generally)
4. bathroom – the place with a bath or shower – the place with a toilet
5. bill – what you get at the end of your meal in a restaurant that says how much you should pay (“the check” in American English) – paper money, as in “a five dollar bill” (“banknote” or “note” in British English)
6. biscuit – as in “chocolate biscuit” (“cookie” in American English) – a kind of savoury scone (as in “chicken and biscuits”)
7. blow off – fart – blow someone off (similar to “stand someone up” in British English)
8. boob tube – a strapless top (“tube top” in American English) – the television
9. brackets – round brackets – square brackets
10. (legal) brief – documents given to a barrister about what to do in court – documents given to a court to show the arguments of one side
11. bum – bottom/ rear end/ buttocks – homeless person/ tramp
12. buzzard – a medium-sized hawk – a kind of vulture
13. campsite – an area for people to camp in (“campground” in American English) – a place for a single tent (“pitch” in British English)
14. casualty – someone who has been injured (as in “casualty department”) – someone who has been killed (as in “casualty figures”)
15. chips – thick-cut hot fried potato, as in “fish and chips” (“French fries” or “fries” in American English) – thin, crispy snacks eaten cold from a bag, as in “potato chips” and “nacho chips” (“crisps” in British English)
16. cider – an alcoholic drink that is similar to beer but made from apples (“hard cider” in American English) – a soft drink made from apples
17. (police) commissioner – professional head of the police (“chief of police” in American English) – person in charge of supervising the police force
18. commonwealth/ (The) Commonwealth – an association of mainly ex-British colonies/ the period after between the death of King Charles I in 1649 to the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 – a way of referring to American states and territories such as Puerto Rico
19. constable – police officer – official who serves summonses (“bailiff” or “sheriff’s officer” in British English)
20. cooker – stove in the kitchen for cooking (“range” in American English) – a person who cooks (“cook” in British English)
21. corn(field) – wheat – maize (often called “sweetcorn” in British English)
22. cot – a baby’s bed (“crib” in American English) – a foldable extra bed (like a camp bed)
23. cracker – Xmas cracker – yokel
24. DC – Detective Constable (as in “DC Smith”) – District of Columbia (as in “Washington DC”)
25. dormitory – a room for more many people, often with bunk beds, for example in a boarding school – a place where university students live (“halls” or “student halls” in British English)
26. entrée – the first course/ starter – the main course
27. faculty – the largest organisation of a university, often consisting of several departments – professors and similar staff (“academic staff” in British English)
28. fag – cigarette – a very non-PC insult for a homosexual
29. faggot – a kind of meatball – a non-PC insult for homosexuals
30. fancy dress – dressing up in a costume, e.g. for Halloween – formal wear such as a ball gown
31. fanny – vagina/ vulva – buttocks (as in “fanny pack”)
32. first degree – first degree burn – first degree murder
33. first floor – the first floor above the ground (upstairs from the ground floor, “second floor” in American English) – the floor at ground level (“ground floor” in British English)
34. flapjack – a sweet snack mainly made of oats (like a “granola bar”) – pancake
35. football – footie/ soccer – American football
36. gas – natural gas – gasoline (“petrol” in British English)
37. go potty – go crazy – go to toilet (for a baby)
38. to graduate – successfully finish a university first degree/ bachelor’s degree – successfully finish any academic level, e.g. “graduate from high school” (“finish” in British English)
39. grill – cook under heat (“broil” in American English) – cook on a hotplate/ barbecue
40. gym – gymnasium, the place where sports are done, including in school – gym class (“PE class” in British English)
41. hamper – a large basket for food, as in “picnic hamper” – a laundry basket
42. hockey – field hockey, played on grass – ice hockey
43. homely – cosy (place) – plain or ugly
44. hood – the top of a convertible car – the cover of the engine (“bonnet” in British English)
45. hooker – a position in rugby – slang for a prostitute
46. jelly – a wobbly dessert, as in “jelly and ice cream” (“Jell-O” in American English) – a kind of jam without solid lumps of fruit in it (as in “peanut butter and jelly sandwich”)
47. jock – slang for a Scotsman – slang for an athlete
48. jumper – sweater/ pullover – a kind of knitted dress
49. knock up – get pregnant – wake someone up by knocking on their door
50. mad – crazy – angry
51. mean – miserly/ the opposite of generous – unkind/ nasty
52. medic – doctor/ internist – EMT/ paramedic/ military corpsman
53. mortuary – place for dead bodies (“morgue” in the US) – funeral home/ funeral parlour
54. nappy – kind of underpants for babies (“diaper” in British English) – an insulting word about Afro hair
55. nervy – nervous/ jumpy – cheeky
56. outside lane – the lane nearest the opposite side of the road, often used by faster cars (“inside lane” in American English) – the lane near the edge of the street, often used by slower vehicles (“inside lane” in British English)
57. pantomime – a kind of play/ musical, that is often based on fairy tales and played at Xmas (often shortened to “panto”) – a performance without speech (“mime” in British English)
58. pants – underpants – long pants (“trousers” in British English)
59. parentheses – brackets generally (round brackets, square brackets, etc) – round brackets
60. pavement – the part by the side of the road where people walk (“sidewalk” in American English) – the material that makes a road
61. penny – a hundredth of a pound – a cent
62. pissed – drunk – annoyed (“pissed off” in British English)
63. prep school – a private school that prepares students to secondary school – a private school that prepares students for university
64. professor – the very top members of the academic staff of a university – all lecturers at a university
65. prom – music performance, as in “The Proms” – dance/ ball, especially at schools
66. public school – an old and usually high status private school (historically, the first schools which were open to the paying public) – a school funded by the (local and/ or national) government (“state school” in British English)
67. pudding – dessert generally, or a hot, heavy dessert similar to Xmas pudding – a kind of custard dessert, similar to crème caramel
68. purse – a small and/ or woman’s wallet – a handbag or shoulder bag
69. rail depot – a place where trains are parked – a rail terminal
70. rider – a person riding a bicycle, motorbike, horse, etc – a person travelling on a train, bus, etc (“passenger” in British English)
71. robin – a small bird with a red breast – a medium-sized bird with a red breast
72. roommate – someone sharing the same bedroom – someone sharing the same house/ apartment (“housemate” or “flatmate” in British English)
73. a rubber – an eraser – a condom
74. saloon – part of a pub – a Western-style bar
75. semester – half an academic year – between a quarter and a half of an academic year, depending on how the academic year is split (“term” in British English)
76. semi – semi-detached house (“duplex” in American English) – semi-trailer truck (“articulated lorry” in British English)
77. sherbet – a powdered sweet which fizzes a little on your tongue – a type of frozen dessert, like ice cream but with less or no milk (“sorbet” in British English)
78. silverware – trophies won by sports teams – things you eat with (“cutlery” in British English)
79. sprouts – Brussels sprouts – alfalfa sprouts
80. squash – a kind of cordial that needs to be watered down to be drunk – a kind of vegetable similar to a pumpkin (similar to a British “marrow”)
81. state school – a school funded by the government (“public school” in American English) – a school funded by the state (rather than the national government or a more local area)
82. strike – hit the ball – miss (in baseball)
83. subway – a pedestrian underpass – underground railway
84. a surgery – a doctor’s office, like a clinic – an operating theatre
85. suspenders – straps to hold up stockings (“garters” in American English) – straps to hold up trousers (“braces” in British English)
86. sweets – small sugary snacks (“candy” in American English) – dessert/ sweet things generally, such as cakes
87. tank top – sweater without sleeves – sleeveless T shirt
88. The Times – The Times (often called “The London Times” in the US) – The New York Times
89. tick someone off – tell someone off – irritate someone
90. tights – nylons (“pantyhose” in American English) – skin-tight trousers (“leggings” in British English) or one-piece trousers and top (“unitard” in British English)
91. tosser – idiot/ wanker – someone who likes to throw things away, the opposite of “hoarder”
92. trailer – something that goes behind car or bicycle, usually to carry extra luggage – similar, but also including small places where people can stay (“caravan” in British English)
93. trolley – shopping trolley – a kind of train in the street (“tram” in British English)
94. trooper – private in the army – state police officer
95. tuition – teaching, especially by a (private) tutor – money paid to study (“tuition fees” in British English)
96. underpass – a street underground, often under another street – a tunnel for pedestrians under a street (“subway” in British English)
97. vest – underwear worn under your shirt (“undershirt” in American English) – part of a three-piece suit, worn under your jacket (“waistcoat” in British English)
98. wash up – do the dishes – wash your hands (before dinner)
99. white spirit – a kind of alcohol used for cleaning, as a paint thinner, etc (“turpentine” in American English) – a kind of illegally distilled alcohol for drinking
100. Yankee – someone from the United States (usually shortened to “Yank”) – someone from New England or the North-eastern United States more generally