# Jonathan

/ˈdʒɑnəθən/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. male name

noun · CEFR A2

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, frequently appearing in English-speaking cultures.

- Jonathan decided to go by the name Jon when he started university.
- The biblical narrative of David and Jonathan is often cited as a classic example of profound friendship and loyalty.

### 2. type of apple

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a type of sweet and slightly sour red apple.

For teachers: a specific cultivar of apple that originated in New York, known for its red skin and balanced sweet-tart flavour.

- We picked a basket of Jonathan apples to make a pie.
- The Jonathan apple is highly valued by commercial growers for its crisp texture and its ability to maintain flavour during long-term cold storage.

### 3. an American

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Slang

an old-fashioned nickname for a person from the United States.

For teachers: a personified national emblem or nickname for a citizen of the United States, often appearing as 'Brother Jonathan'.

- In the old political cartoon, Brother Jonathan represented the American people.
- Before the figure of Uncle Sam became dominant, Brother Jonathan was the primary allegorical representation used to personify the United States in British satire.

## Examples

- She wore a stunning Jonathan on her necklace.
- The auction house expected the rare Jonathan to break previous sales records for blue diamonds.
- While many collectors focus on the history of a piece, the true value of a Jonathan lies in its internal fire and the precision of its master-crafted facets.

---

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.