# McKenzie

/məˈkɛnzi/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. a surname

noun · CEFR B2

A common last name that comes from Scotland.

For teachers: A Scottish surname of Gaelic origin, meaning 'son of Kenneth'.

- Professor McKenzie will be leading the history seminar this afternoon.
- The McKenzie clan has a long and storied history in the Scottish Highlands, with many branches of the family tree spreading across the globe.

### 2. a first name

noun · CEFR B2

A popular first name, usually for girls.

For teachers: A female given name transferred from the surname, particularly popular in North America since the late 20th century.

- McKenzie is starting her first day of kindergarten tomorrow morning.
- While traditionally a surname, McKenzie has seen a significant rise as a given name for girls in various English-speaking countries.

### 3. a large wine bottle

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

A very large bottle of wine that holds about five liters.

For teachers: A large-format Bordeaux wine bottle with a capacity of approximately five liters, equivalent to roughly six and a half standard bottles.

- The restaurant displayed a massive McKenzie bottle in the window to attract customers.
- For the anniversary gala, the sommelier suggested opening a McKenzie of vintage Bordeaux to serve the entire table from a single vessel.

## Examples

- McKenzie is a very common surname in Scotland.
- The professor introduced Dr. McKenzie as the lead researcher on the new environmental project.
- While historically a patronymic surname associated with the Highlands, McKenzie has gained significant popularity as a unisex given name across North America over the last few decades.

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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.