any of the closely related languages of the Celts in Ireland, Scotland, or (formerly) the Isle of Man
Compare Goidelic
of, denoting, or relating to the Celtic people of Ireland, Scotland, or the Isle of Man or their language or customs
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Gael•ic
(gā′lik),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
- Language Varietiesa Celtic language that includes the speech of ancient Ireland and the dialects that have developed from it, esp. those usually known as Irish, Manx, and Scots Gaelic. Gaelic constitutes the Goidelic subbranch of Celtic. Abbr.: Gael
adj.
- Language Varietiesof or in Gaelic.
- Language Varietiesof or pertaining to the Gaels or their language.
- Gael + -ic (representing Scots Gaelic Gaidhlig, derivative of Gaidheal Gael) 1590–1600
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'Gaelic' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Alba
- Baile Átha Cliath
- Beltane
- Boyd
- Celtic
- Cork
- Dublin
- Erin
- Erse
- Fenian
- Gael
- Gaelic coffee
- Gaeltacht
- Garda Síochána
- Goidelic
- Irish
- Irish Free State
- Irish Gaelic
- Kyloe
- Malcolm
- Manx
- Oireachtas
- Ossian
- Ossianic
- Roy
- Sassenach
- ScotGael
- Scotch Gaelic
- Scots
- Scots Gaelic
- Scottish Gaelic
- bachelor
- bannock
- banshee
- bard
- bat
- bockedy
- bodkin
- bog
- bogle
- bother
- brogue
- bunny
- caber
- cairn
- capercaillie
- ceilidh
- clachan
- clan
- claymore