Word
philip
Phoneticsphilip
/ˈfɪɫəp/
Definitions
01male given name
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a common first name for a man.
n. a common male given name, derived from the Greek name Philippos, meaning 'lover of horses'.
“My brother Philip is starting his new job at the hospital tomorrow.”
“Philip was named after his grandfather, following a long-standing family tradition of passing down the name to the firstborn son.”
Usage
Often shortened to 'Phil' in informal contexts.
Pitfall
Phillip
Philip
While both spellings exist, 'Philip' with one 'l' is the traditional spelling for the biblical name and many historical figures.
Synonyms
02biblical figure
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Religion Formal
n. one of the twelve original followers of Jesus in the Bible.
n. one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus in the New Testament; also refers to Philip the Evangelist.
“The stained glass window in the church shows Saint Philip.”
“In the Gospel of John, Philip is the apostle who introduces Nathanael to Jesus.”
Usage
Usually preceded by the title 'Saint' in religious contexts.
03surname
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a family name or last name.
n. a surname of patronymic origin, indicating 'son of Philip'.
“The author of the book is a woman named Jane Philip.”
“The Philip family has lived in this part of the county for several generations, according to the local records.”
Usage
Less common as a surname than the variant 'Phillips'.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English Philip, ultimately from Ancient Greek Φίλιππος (Phílippos), name of ancient kings of Macedonia, from φίλιππος (phílippos, “fond of horses”), from φιλέω (philéō, “to love”) + ἵππος (híppos, “horse”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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