John

UK: 'john', 'John': /ˈdʒɒn/ US: /dʒɑn/ ,( jon)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

John / dʒɒn/ noun

1. the apostle John, the son of Zebedee, identified with the author of the fourth Gospel, three epistles, and the book of Revelation. Feast day: Dec 27 or Sept 26
2. the fourth Gospel
3. any of three epistles (in full The First, Second, and Third Epistles of John)
5. known as John Lackland. 1167–1216, king of England (1199–1216); son of Henry II. He succeeded to the throne on the death of his brother Richard I, having previously tried to usurp the throne. War with France led to the loss of most of his French possessions. After his refusal to recognize Stephen Langton as archbishop of Canterbury an interdict was imposed on England (1208–14). In 1215 he was compelled by the barons to grant the Magna Carta
6. called the Fearless. 1371–1419, duke of Burgundy (1404–19). His attempt to control the insane king Charles VI and his murder of the king's brother led to civil war: assassinated
7. Augustus (Edwin). 1878–1961, British painter, esp of portraits
8. Barry born 1945–2024, Welsh Rugby Union footballer: halfback for Wales (1966–72) and the British Lions (1968–71)
9. Sir Elton (Hercules), original name Reginald Dwight. born 1947, British rock pianist, composer, and singer; his hits include "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) and "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997), a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales
10. Gwen, sister of Augustus John. 1876–1939, British painter, working in France: noted esp for her portraits of women

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

john /dʒɑn/   n. [countable]

1. Slang Terms [Informal.] a toilet or bathroom.
2. Slang Terms [sometimes: John] a prostitute's customer.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

jock¹ /dʒɑk/   n. 

[countable]
1. a jockstrap.
2. Informal Terms a person who enjoys or is good at sports;
   athlete.
3. Informal Terms someone who enjoys a specific activity;
   enthusiast:
   a computer jock (= someone who enjoys operating computers);
   science jocks.

jock² /dʒɑk/   n. [countable]

1. Informal Terms a jockey.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

john  ( jon), n. [Slang.]

1. Slang Terms a toilet or bathroom.
2. Slang Terms (sometimes cap.) a fellow;
   guy.
3. Slang Terms (sometimes cap.) a prostitute's customer.

• generic use of the proper name

John  ( jon), n. 

1. Bible, Biographical the apostle John, believed to be the author of the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the book of Revelation.
2. Bible, Biographical See John the Baptist. 
3. Biographical (John Lackland) 1167?–1216, king of England 1199–1216;
   signer of the Magna Carta 1215 (son of Henry II of England).
4. Biographical Augustus Edwin, 1878–1961, British painter and etcher.
5. Biographical Elton, (Reginald Kenneth Dwight), born 1947, English rock singer, pianist, and songwriter.
6. Bible the fourth Gospel.
7. Bible any of the three Epistles of John: I, II, or III John.
8. a male given name.

• Hebrew Yōhānān, derivative of Yehōhānān God has been gracious
• Greek Iōánnēs
• Medieval Latin Jō(h)annēs
• Middle English John, Johan, Jon

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

Bol•land  (bol′ənd; Fr. bô län′;
Flemish bol′änt), n.  Jean de  (Fr. zhän də) or Jo•han van 

(Flemish. yō hän′ vän) or John, 1596–1665, Belgian Jesuit hagiographer.Also, Bol•lan•dus  (bō lan′dəs). 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

Hamp•den  (hamp′dən, ham′-), n. 

1. John, 1594–1643, British statesman who defended the rights of the House of Commons against Charles I.
2. Walter (Walter Hampden Dougherty), 1879–1955, U.S. actor.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

Sloan  (slōn), n. 

1. John, 1871–1951, U.S. painter.
2. a male given name.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bar•ley•corn  (bär′lē kôrn′), n. 

1. Plant Biology barley.
2. a grain of barley.
3. Weights and Measures a measure equal to ¹⁄₃ in. (8.5 mm).
4. Textiles Also, bar′ley corn′. a type of basket weave that produces an allover geometric pattern.

• late Middle English. See barley¹, corn¹ 1375–1425

Bar•ley•corn  (bär′lē kôrn′), n. 

1. John. See John Barleycorn. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

chap•man  (chap′mən), n., pl. -men. 

1. British Terms a peddler.
2. [Archaic.] a merchant.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English cēapman (cēap buying and selling + man man¹); cognate with Dutch koopman, German Kaufmann; see cheap

chap′man•ship′, n. 

Chap•man  (chap′mən), n. 

Frank Mich•ler  (mik′lər), 1864–1945, U.S. ornithologist, museum curator, and author.
1. Biographical George, 1559–1634, English poet, dramatist, and translator.
2. John. See Appleseed, Johnny. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

jock¹  ( jok), n. [Informal.]

1. Informal Terms jockey.
2. Informal Terms See disc jockey. 

• shortened form of jockey 1820–30

jock²  ( jok), n. 

1. a jockstrap.
2. Slang Terms [Informal.] an athlete.
3. Informal Terms an enthusiast:
   a computer jock.

• by shortening from jockstrap 1950–55

Jock  ( jok), n. 

1. British Terms, Scottish Terms [Scot. and Irish Eng.]
   • a nickname for John. 
   • an innocent lad;
     country boy.
2. British Terms
   • a Scottish soldier or a soldier in a Scottish regiment.
   • any Scot.
3. a male given name.

• 1500–10

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

john / dʒɒn/ noun

1. 
   a slang word for lavatory1
2. a prostitute's client
3. 
   short for John Hop

Etymology: 20th Century: special use of the proper name