# Eric

/ˈɛɹɪk/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common name for a man or boy.

For teachers: a masculine given name of Germanic origin, meaning 'ever-ruler' or 'eternal ruler'.

- My friend Eric is coming over to help me fix my computer.
- The biography details how Eric the Red founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland during the late tenth century.

### 3. historical fine

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a payment made to a family to make up for a crime like murder.

For teachers: a fine paid by a murderer or their family to the family of the victim under old Irish law.

- In ancient times, the family had to pay an eric for the crime.
- The legal historian explained that the eric served as a form of restorative justice to prevent blood feuds between rival clans.

## Examples

- Eric is my brother's name.
- The teacher called on Eric to answer the question about the solar system.
- While the name Eric has roots in ancient Scandinavian royalty, it remains a staple of modern naming conventions across various cultures due to its simple pronunciation and strong historical associations.

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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.