name
Uncommon
Bradford
BRAD-fuhrd
Bradford (name) means a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England, along with numerous smaller towns of the same name across England, the US, Canada, and elsewhere. Example: “She grew up in Bradford before moving south for university.”
name
1
A city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England, along with numerous smaller towns of the same name across England, the US, Canada, and elsewhere.
"She grew up in Bradford before moving south for university."
noun
1
(slang, cocktail) A martini served shaken rather than stirred.
"He ordered a Bradford, extra dry, at the hotel bar."
How to use Bradford
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPrimarily a place name (most famously the English city); occasionally used as slang for a shaken martini.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Bradfords
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She grew up in _____ before moving south for university.
Etymology
The place name comes from Old English brād ("broad") plus ford, describing a wide river crossing.
Rhymes for Bradford
See all rhymes for Bradford →Frequently asked questions
What does “Bradford” mean?
The word “Bradford” means a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England, along with numerous smaller towns of the same name across England, the US, Canada, and elsewhere. In plain terms, primarily a place name (most famously the English city); occasionally used as slang for a shaken martini.
How do you pronounce “Bradford”?
“Bradford” is pronounced BRAD-fuhrd (/ˈbɹædfɚd/ in IPA).
How do you use “Bradford” in a sentence?
Here is “Bradford” used in a sentence: “She grew up in Bradford before moving south for university.”
What part of speech is “Bradford”?
Depending on how it is used, “Bradford” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Bradford” come from?
The word “Bradford” comes from Old English. The place name comes from Old English brād ("broad") plus ford, describing a wide river crossing.
Is “Bradford” a common word?
“Bradford” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Bradford” have?
“Bradford” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England, along with numerous smaller towns of the same name across England, the US, Canada, and elsewhere.
Where is Bradford located?
Bradford is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. The name is also shared by numerous smaller towns of the same name across England, the United States, Canada, and elsewhere.
What does "Bradford" mean as a cocktail term?
In cocktail slang, a Bradford refers to a martini that is shaken rather than stirred, distinguishing it from the classic stirred preparation associated with the drink.
Is Bradford only used as a place name?
No, while Bradford is best known as the name of a city in West Yorkshire, England, and other towns worldwide, it also has a niche informal use in cocktail slang for a shaken martini.
