# Tim

/ˈtɪm/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. a person's name

noun · CEFR A1

a short form of the male name Timothy.

For teachers: a common hypocorism or diminutive form of the masculine given name Timothy.

- My friend Tim is coming over to help me fix my computer tonight.
- Although his legal documents all list him as Timothy, he has gone by Tim since his early childhood.

### 3. football supporter

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang · Informal

a slang name for a fan of the Scottish football team Celtic.

For teachers: a colloquial and often derogatory term for a supporter of Celtic Football Club.

- He has been a proud Tim all his life and never misses a match.
- The rivalry between the two cities often manifests in heated exchanges between a Tim and a Rangers supporter.

Usage: Often capitalized as it refers to a specific group identity.

Teaching tip: This term is specific to Scottish football culture and can be offensive depending on the context and the speaker's intent.

## Examples

- My friend Tim works at the local bank.
- After the meeting, Tim stayed behind to help the team clean up the conference room.
- While Timothy is his formal name on legal documents, he has gone by Tim since his early childhood to maintain a more approachable persona.

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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.