# Gregory

/ˈɡɹɛɡɝi/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: a male given name of Ancient Greek origin, meaning 'watchful' or 'alert'.

- Gregory was the first person to arrive at the party on Saturday night.
- Gregory has been a popular name for popes and saints throughout history, reflecting its traditional roots in the Christian church.

### 2. the neck

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Dialect

a slang word for your neck.

For teachers: a slang term for the neck, derived from Cockney rhyming slang 'Gregory Peck'.

- He wrapped a warm scarf around his Gregory to keep the cold wind out.
- The old Londoner complained about a stiff Gregory after sleeping in an awkward position on the bus.

Usage: Usually used with a possessive pronoun like 'my' or 'his'.

## Examples

- He wrapped a warm scarf around his Gregory.
- The old man complained about a stiff Gregory after sleeping in an uncomfortable chair all afternoon.
- While standard English would suffice, the speaker chose to use 'Gregory' to signal his cultural roots and familiarity with traditional London street slang.

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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.