English Reference

Word

norfolk

Phoneticsnor·folk

/ˈnɔɹfək/

Definition

n. a large county in the east of England known for its flat land and farming. It is a popular place for holidays because of its long coastline and quiet countryside.

n. a maritime county in East Anglia, England, characterized by low-lying topography and extensive agricultural land. It is bounded by the North Sea to the north and east.

Examples

“We spent our summer holiday exploring the coast of Norfolk.”

“Many people move to Norfolk for a slower pace of life among the historic villages and winding waterways.”

“The architectural heritage of Norfolk is defined by its medieval churches and grand country estates, reflecting the region's historical prosperity as a center for the wool trade.”

Examples

simple

“We spent our summer holiday exploring the coast of Norfolk.”

contextual

“Many people move to Norfolk for a slower pace of life among the historic villages and winding waterways.”

complex

“The architectural heritage of Norfolk is defined by its medieval churches and grand country estates, reflecting the region's historical prosperity as a center for the wool trade.”

Usage

As a proper noun, it is capitalized and typically used without an article.

Real-World Examples

“It is the second time the UK has reached 38C this year – the first was at Lingwood, Norfolk on 26 June.”
BBC News · 13 Aug 2026
“It is also the second time this year that the temperature has reached 38C, after Lingwood, Norfolk recorded 38.0C on 26 June.”
BBC News · 14 Aug 2026
“And last week, over several nights of unrest in the Norfolk town of Thetford, crowds attempted to storm other suspected HMOs.”
The Guardian · 13 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English Northfolk, from Old English Norþfolc (literally “northern people”), from norþ (“north, northern”) + folc (“folk, people, race, nation”). As an Ecuadorian island, clipping of Duke of Norfolk's Island, bestowed by William Ambrosia Cowley in 1684 honor of Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk; his son Henry, the 7th duke; or both. As an Australian island and territory, bestowed by James Cook in 1774 in honor of Mary Howard, wife of the 9th duke.

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

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference