name
Common
Manchester
MAN-chihs-tuh
Manchester (name) means a major city in northwestern England, historically central to the Industrial Revolution and now known for music, football, and culture. Example: “They flew into Manchester for the football match.”
name
1
A major city in northwestern England, historically central to the Industrial Revolution and now known for music, football, and culture.
"They flew into Manchester for the football match."
noun
1
In Australian and New Zealand English, household linen such as sheets, towels, and pillowcases, especially as a retail category.
"My love of linen stems from two sources. My first proper job working in the manchester department at Target, where I learnt how to style a miniature bed into a showroom-worthy display."
— Sarah Brookes, The Age (2025)
"She picked up new bedding in the manchester section of the store."
"The recent acquisition of online homewares and furniture retailer Mocka has fuelled a better-than-expected result at manchester merchant Adairs, with the company's shares soaring 7.9 per cent."
— Dominic Powell, The Age (2020)
"David Jones says more than half-a-million shoppers will visit its four Victorian stores. The most popular items are Christmas decorations, women's shoes, men's shirts and manchester."
— ABC, ABC News (2005)
How to use Manchester
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBest known as the name of the English city; in Australia/New Zealand it also means household linen sold in shops.
UK vs US
The "household linen" sense is specific to Australian and New Zealand English and would confuse most British or American readers.
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Word forms
- Plural
- manchesters
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They flew into _____ for the football match.
Etymology
From Old English Mameceaster, combining a Brythonic place-name element (possibly related to a word for a breast-shaped hill) with Old English ceaster ("Roman fort"), from Latin castra ("camp").
Synonyms
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Cottonopolis
Madchester
the Rainy City
Rhymes for Manchester
See all rhymes for Manchester →Frequently asked questions
What does “Manchester” mean?
The word “Manchester” means a major city in northwestern England, historically central to the Industrial Revolution and now known for music, football, and culture. In plain terms, best known as the name of the English city; in Australia/New Zealand it also means household linen sold in shops.
How do you pronounce “Manchester”?
“Manchester” is pronounced MAN-chihs-tuh (/ˈmæn.t͡ʃɛs.tɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Manchester” in a sentence?
Here is “Manchester” used in a sentence: “They flew into Manchester for the football match.”
What part of speech is “Manchester”?
Depending on how it is used, “Manchester” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Manchester” come from?
The word “Manchester” comes from Latin. From Old English Mameceaster, combining a Brythonic place-name element (possibly related to a word for a breast-shaped hill) with Old English ceaster ("Roman fort"), from Latin castra ("camp").
Is “Manchester” a common word?
“Manchester” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Manchester” have?
“Manchester” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a major city in northwestern England, historically central to the Industrial Revolution and now known for music, football, and culture.
What is Manchester known for?
Manchester is famous as a birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, earning the nickname "Cottonopolis" for its cotton mills. Today it is celebrated for football, through Manchester United and Manchester City; for music, from Oasis to the "Madchester" scene; and for a lively cultural life of galleries, universities, and nightlife.
Why was Manchester important in the Industrial Revolution?
Manchester became the world's first industrial city, its economy built on cotton spinning and weaving in vast steam-powered mills. Canals and, later, the world's first inter-city railway linked it to ports and markets. This rapid growth made it a hub of trade, engineering, and reform, but also of harsh factory conditions.
What football teams play in Manchester?
The city is home to two of the world's best-known clubs: Manchester United, based at Old Trafford, and Manchester City, based at the Etihad Stadium. Their rivalry, known as the Manchester derby, is followed around the globe, and both clubs form a large part of the city's identity and international fame.
Where is Manchester located?
Manchester lies in the north-west of England, at the heart of the wider Greater Manchester conurbation. It sits roughly 260 kilometres north-west of London and about 50 kilometres east of Liverpool, on fairly flat ground close to the Pennine hills. It is one of England's largest and most influential cities.
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