# Douglas

/ˈdəɡɫəs/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/douglas
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a person's name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for men or a last name for a family.

For teachers: a masculine given name or a surname of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic for 'dark water'.

- Douglas was happy to see his old friends at the party.
- The novelist Frederick Douglass, though his name is spelled with a double 's', remains one of the most famous historical figures with this surname.

### 2. a place name

noun · CEFR B1

the capital city of the Isle of Man, a small island between England and Ireland.

For teachers: the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, situated at the mouth of the River Douglas.

- The ferry from Liverpool arrives at the harbour in Douglas.
- As the administrative centre of the Isle of Man, Douglas serves as the primary hub for the island's unique legal and financial services.

## Examples

- Douglas is starting his new job on Monday.
- The local library was named after Frederick Douglas to honour his contributions to the community.
- While Douglas remains a traditional choice for a first name, it is frequently encountered as a surname in historical texts regarding the Scottish clans of the Lowlands.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.