# Irishman

/ˈaɪɹɪʃmən/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/irishman
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a man who was born in Ireland or who is a citizen of that country.

For teachers: a male native or inhabitant of Ireland, or a man of Irish descent.

## Examples

- The Irishman told us a story about his hometown in Galway.
- As a proud Irishman, he always made sure to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day with his family.
- The novel follows the journey of a young Irishman who emigrates to New York in the mid-nineteenth century to escape the hardships of the Great Famine.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is an Irish" but "He is an Irishman" — Learners often use the adjective 'Irish' as a count noun; for a specific person, use 'Irishman', 'Irishwoman', or 'Irish person'.

## Usage notes

- The plural form is 'Irishmen'.

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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.