# Eli

/ˈiɫaɪ/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 2. Yale student

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Informal

a student who attends or graduated from Yale University in the United States.

For teachers: A student or alumnus of Yale University. Derived from the university's benefactor, Elihu Yale.

- My cousin is a proud Eli who graduated from Yale last spring.
- The annual football game between Harvard and Yale always draws thousands of Elis back to the stadium for the festivities.

Usage: Capitalized as a proper noun.

### 3. biblical name

noun · CEFR B2

a male name from the Bible, often used as a short form of Elijah or Elisha.

For teachers: A male given name of Hebrew origin, specifically referring to the High Priest of Israel in the Books of Samuel.

- Eli is a popular name for boys in many English-speaking countries.
- In the biblical narrative, Eli served as a mentor to the young prophet Samuel at the tabernacle in Shiloh.

Usage: Commonly used as a standalone name or a diminutive.

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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.