English Reference

Word

lancashire

Phoneticslan·cashire

/ˈɫæŋkəˌʃaɪɹ/

Definition

n. A large area in the north-west of England, known for its history and industrial cities.

n. A maritime county in North West England, historically significant for its role in the Industrial Revolution.

Examples

“We spent our summer holiday hiking in Lancashire.”

“The recipe specifically calls for Lancashire cheese because it melts more smoothly than other crumbly varieties.”

“Historically, Lancashire was a global centre of the cotton industry during the Industrial Revolution, with its damp climate providing ideal conditions for spinning and weaving.”

Examples

simple

“We spent our summer holiday hiking in Lancashire.”

contextual

“The recipe specifically calls for Lancashire cheese because it melts more smoothly than other crumbly varieties.”

complex

“Historically, Lancashire was a global centre of the cotton industry during the Industrial Revolution, with its damp climate providing ideal conditions for spinning and weaving.”

Real-World Examples

“The grandfather from Blackburn, Lancashire, said: "My first reaction was disbelief.”
BBC News · 11 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English Lancastreschire, from Lancastre (“Lancaster”) + schire (“shire, county”). By surface analysis, Lanca(ster) + -shire.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference