# Wilson

/ˈwɪɫsən/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. a surname

noun · CEFR A1

a very common last name in English-speaking countries like the UK, USA, and Australia.

For teachers: a common English, Scottish, and Northern Irish surname of patronymic origin, meaning 'son of Will'.

- The famous American president Woodrow Wilson served during World War I.
- The research paper was co-authored by Professor Wilson, a leading expert in the field of marine biology.

### 2. a male first name

noun · CEFR A2

a first name for a man or boy.

For teachers: a masculine given name transferred from the surname.

- Wilson decided to start his own business after working for ten years.
- Wilson was named after his grandfather, following a long-standing family tradition of passing down surnames as first names.

### 3. a place name

noun · CEFR B1

the name of several towns and cities, especially in the United States.

For teachers: a toponym referring to numerous municipalities and localities, primarily in the United States, Australia, and England.

- They drove through Wilson, North Carolina, on their way to the coast.
- The regional development plan aims to improve infrastructure connecting the suburb of Wilson to the central business district.

## Examples

- Mr. Wilson is our new history teacher.
- The local library is named after the Wilson family, who donated the land fifty years ago.
- Woodrow Wilson served as the 28th President of the United States, leading the country through the First World War and advocating for the League of Nations.

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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.