English Reference

Word

yorker

Phoneticsyork·er

US/ˈjɔɹkɝ/

UK/jˈɔːkɐ/

Definitions

02person from York

C2

n. someone who comes from the city of York in England.

n. a native or inhabitant of the city of York, England.

“As a proud Yorker, he knew all the hidden history of the city's ancient walls.”

“The local society was composed mostly of lifelong Yorkers who were dedicated to preserving the architectural heritage of the Minster's surroundings.”

British English

03historical political group

C2 · Law

n. a person in the 1700s who believed Vermont should be part of New York.

n. an inhabitant of the Vermont region in the late 18th century who supported New York's territorial claims over the area.

“The Yorkers and the Green Mountain Boys often fought over who owned the land.”

“Tensions escalated in the 1770s as Yorkers attempted to enforce New York land grants against the resistance of local settlers.”

American English · Archaic

Teaching tip

This sense is highly specific to American colonial history and is rarely encountered outside of academic texts on the founding of Vermont.

Real-World Examples

“New Yorkers are about as keen to complain about the weather as they are to point out a celebrity, but in these conditions you can’t not talk about it.”
The Guardian · 14 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/yorker

English Reference