noun
Brexit
BREHG-ziht
Brexit (noun) means the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, completed in 2020 after a 2016 referendum. Example: “Brexit changed trade rules between the UK and the EU.”
noun
1
The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, completed in 2020 after a 2016 referendum.
"Brexit changed trade rules between the UK and the EU."
"Debates about Brexit dominated British politics for years."
How to use Brexit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe UK leaving the EU, and the political process and fallout around it.
Common pairings
post-Brexit
Brexit deal
Brexit negotiations
hard Brexit
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- Brexits
- Past tense
- Brexited
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_____ changed trade rules between the UK and the EU.
Etymology
A blend of "Britain" and "exit", coined in 2012 by analogy with the earlier term "Grexit" (a hypothetical Greek exit from the eurozone).
Class of 2012
Brexit joined the language around 2012.
See the full Class of 2012 →
Rhymes for Brexit
See all rhymes for Brexit →Frequently asked questions
What does “Brexit” mean?
The word “Brexit” means the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, completed in 2020 after a 2016 referendum. In plain terms, the UK leaving the EU, and the political process and fallout around it.
How do you pronounce “Brexit”?
“Brexit” is pronounced BREHG-ziht (/ˈbɹɛɡzɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “Brexit” in a sentence?
Here is “Brexit” used in a sentence: “Brexit changed trade rules between the UK and the EU.”
What part of speech is “Brexit”?
“Brexit” is a noun.
Where does the word “Brexit” come from?
The word “Brexit” dates back to around 2012 and comes from Greek. A blend of "Britain" and "exit", coined in 2012 by analogy with the earlier term "Grexit" (a hypothetical Greek exit from the eurozone).
What year did Brexit officially happen?
The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, known as Brexit, was completed in 2020, following a referendum held in 2016. The years between the vote and formal withdrawal involved extended negotiations over the terms of separation.
Is "Brexit" a blend of two words?
Yes, "Brexit" is a portmanteau combining "Britain" (or "British") and "exit," reflecting its meaning as the UK's departure from the European Union. The term became widely used during the lead-up to the 2016 referendum.
Is Brexit capitalized?
Yes, "Brexit" is capitalized as a proper noun because it refers to a specific historical and political event, the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. This follows the standard convention for named political events.
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