# Edward

/ˈɛdwɝd/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. given name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: a masculine given name of Old English origin, frequently used in English-speaking countries.

- Edward decided to go by the nickname Ed when he started university.
- The protagonist, Edward, undergoes a significant character transformation throughout the first three chapters of the novel.

### 2. historical figure

noun · CEFR B1

the name of several famous kings of England.

For teachers: a name held by numerous English and British monarchs, most notably Edward the Confessor and Edward VIII.

- King Edward VII ruled the United Kingdom at the start of the 1900s.
- Historians often debate the political impact of King Edward I's legal reforms on the development of the English Parliament.

### 3. historical coin

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

an old gold coin used during the time of a King Edward.

For teachers: a gold coin minted during the reign of an English king named Edward.

- The museum displayed a rare Edward found by a farmer in the field.
- The numismatist identified the artifact as a gold Edward, noting the specific mint marks characteristic of the mid-fourteenth century.

## Examples

- My friend Edward lives in London.
- The history teacher explained that King Edward played a major role in the development of the legal system.
- Although the name Edward has seen fluctuations in popularity over the decades, it maintains a sense of formal dignity that distinguishes it from more contemporary, informal naming trends.

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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.