List of words having different meanings in American and British English (M–Z)

This is the list of words having different meanings in British and American English: M–Z.

For the first portion of the list, see List of words having different meanings in American and British English (A–L).

Asterisked (*) meanings, though found chiefly in the specified region, also have some currency in the other dialect; other definitions may be viewed by the other as Briticisms or Americanisms respectively. Additional usage notes are provided when useful.

M

WordBritish English meaningsMeanings common to British and American EnglishAmerican English meaningsmac raincoat (short form of Mackintosh) (Mac) brand of Apple Inc. computers (short form of Macintosh) (MAC, followed or not by "address") unique 6-character hexadecimal serial number assigned to a data transmission device such as a computer router, an Ethernet port, or a Wi-Fi adapter, etc. (Uncommon slang; proper n.) A term of informal address used with male strangers; generally implies more unfriendliness or disapproval than the more neutral 'pal' or 'buddy': "Get your car out of my way, Mac!" UK generally 'mate'. Cf. 'Jack.' type of pasta (short form of macaroni) – as in 'mac and cheese'Mackintosh, Macintosh, or McIntoshraincoat (Mackintosh, often shortened to mac)Macintosh, brand of Apple Inc. computers (often shortened to Mac)(wrongly) McIntosh Red, a type of apple mail(used in Royal Mail, name of the British postal system; cf. postal)(Scot.) a payment (tax, rent, etc.)(Scot.) a travelling bag or pack(n.) postal system of a nationletters, packages, etc. sent by post; as delivered to individual, orig. US, UK often post(n. & v.) e-mail, (n.) armour, as in "chainmail"(v.) send a letter (UK: post or send); noun originated mail carrier & mailman (UK: postman), mailbox (UK: postbox; letter box), mail slot, mail drop, etc.mailbox file for storing electronic mail (or related computing or voicemail usage)item of street furniture serving as a receptacle for outgoing mail (UK: post box; letter box; pillar box); a receptacle for incoming paper mail (UK: letter box)main linemajor railway line (as the West Coast Main Line); compare trunkmajor vein (as for drug injection purposes) (orig. 1930s US slang); also used as a v.; main line starsrailroad's primary track, or a primary artery, route, road, or connectionPhiladelphia Main Linemainline Protestant churchesmainsdomestic power supply water mains, the principal underground pipe for conveying water to residential and business propertiesmajor(in the past, in English public schools) used to denote the eldest of two or more pupils with the same surname ("Bloggs major") (US: Sr.)important or significant(n.) rank between captain and lieutenant colonel in the army and marines.(n.) a college/university student's main field of specialization ("his major is physics"); the student himself ("he is a physics major"); (v.) to pursue a major ("he majored in physics") (compare minor; UK: compare read)(n.) rank between captain and lieutenant colonel in the air force (UK squadron leader) and in some police agencies (UK approx. superintendent).majority (politics)the greatest number of votesdifference of votes between first and second place (US: plurality) more than half of all votes, people, etc. (UK: absolute majority)make out to draw up, to seek to make it appear, to fabricate a storyto see with difficulty; to understand the meaning ofto kiss (see Making out)to succeed or profit ("She made out well on that deal.") *marinara saucesauce containing seafood, usu. in a tomato base red sauce containing tomatoes and herbs, often with meat but never with seafood (UK: napolitana sauce)marqueelarge, open-sided tent installed outdoors for temporary functions * signage placed over the entrance to a hotel, theatre, or cinema(attrib.) the ability (of a show) to draw audience, "box office" ("marquee value")a prominent celebrity or athlete ("marquee player")matefriend (US: pal or friend)informal term of address ("hello mate")animal's sexual partnercheckmate, the winning of a game of chessan officer on a merchant shipspouse or partnermean (adj.)stingy, miserly, selfishof inferior quality, contemptiblea statistical average (see mean)unpleasant, unkind, vicious *median statistical average (see median)geometric medianmedian nerveportion of a divided highway used to separate opposing traffic (UK central reservation)meet with to face (as a situation), experience ("If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two impostors just the same" – Kipling); to encounter for the first time (How I Met Your Mother)to have a meeting with (as people) ("Vice president meets with Iraqi officials", CNN) *(UK generally meet (transitive) or meet up with)mezzanine intermediate floor between main floors of a buildinglowest balcony in a theatre, or the first few rows of seats thereof (UK usu. dress circle)mid-Atlantic in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, halfway between UK & US; an English-speaking accent with features of both British and American speakersregion of the U.S. that includes all or some of the states between New York and South Carolina (exact definition of Mid-Atlantic States may vary)middle classbetter off than 'working class', but not rich, i.e., a narrower term than in the U.S. and often negative ordinary; not rich although not destitute, generally a positive termmidway (adv.) in the centre of a line or period (n.) part of a fair in which there are games, rides, etc.militaryrelating specifically to the British Army (dated)relating to armed forces in general minor(in the past, in English public schools) used to denote the youngest of two or more pupils with the same surname ("Bloggs minor") (US: Jr.)not very importantsee minor (law), major and minor(n.) a person under 18 years old, generally, and for legal reasons more specifically (as in "the name of the defendant is withheld because he is a minor"), or under an age legally required for certain behavior (such as drinking, voting, driving, purchasing alcohol, renting R-rated movies and so on), or under the age of consent.(n.) secondary academic subject (compare major) ("has a major in biology and a minor in English"); (v.) to study as one's minor ("she minored in English")minor league;miss outto omitto lose a chance; usu. used with on mobile (n.)mobile phone (US: cell phone)decorative structure suspended so as to turn freely in the air mobile homemobile, non-motorised piece of equipment with living facilities; a caravan (q.v.) type of manufactured dwelling transported to the home site using wheels attached to the structuremomentarily for a momentin a moment; very soonmono (adj.) monophonic (of reproduced sound, e.g. radio or CD player using a single speaker)monochrome(n.) infectious mononucleosis, disease caused by Epstein-Barr virus (UK: glandular fever)moot(adj.) debatable ("a moot point")(v.) to bring up for debate see also moot court (adj.) irrelevant ("a moot point") (orig. legal, now in common use)mortuary (n.)building or room (as in a hospital) for the storage of human remains (US: morgue) funeral home, funeral parlormotorbikea motorcycle lightweighted, small motorcyclemotor car, motorcar(formal) a car (motor vehicle) (US: automobile) self-propelled railway vehicleMPMember of ParliamentMilitary policeother expansionsNorthern Mariana Islands (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code and U.S. postal abbreviation MP)Missouri Pacific Railroad muffinthick round baked yeast roll, usually toasted and served with butter (US: English muffin) confection similar to a cupcake but unfrosted and less sweet, sometimes even savory (e.g., corn muffin) *(UK: American muffin)muffler a scarfdevice to silence an automobile (UK: silencer) or gramophonemummother, as addressed or referred to by her child (US: mom)silent, as in "keep mum"chrysanthemummummymother, as addressed or referred to by her child (US: mommy)Ancient Egyptian mummy, chemically preserved corpseany preserved corpse (Mexican mumia) mush(informal) term of address, often hostile (possibly from Romany "man") (informal) facea soft wet massthick cornmeal porridgecommand to dogs to start pulling a sledge *

N WordBritish English meaningsMeanings common to British and American EnglishAmerican English meaningsnapkinnappy (q.v.), diaper (dated, not well known) piece of material used to protect garments from spilled food or to remove food residues from around the mouth [formerly esp. US; alternative UK term serviette is becoming obsolete]piece of cloth or paper used to protect garments, (typically sanitary napkin) absorbent piece of material worn by a woman while menstruating *(UK usu. sanitary towel) nappyfolded cloth or other absorbent material drawn up between the legs and fastened around the waist, usu. worn by infants to counter incontinence (US: diaper)  twisted or kinked, considered insulting when applied to hair, esp. that of persons of African descent (also called napped)natterIdle, pleasant chatter (US: small talk, chitchat) (natter on) Constant, annoying chatternervynervous, fidgety bold, presumptuousNHSThe National Health Service, a government-run health care plan funded by British taxpayers and available to all citizens. The National Honor Society, an American scholastic organization open to high schoolers (in grades 10–12, see grade) who excel in academics, leadership skills, citizenship, and character.nickprison or police station (slang)to steal (slang)to arrest (slang)small cut(computer jarg.) nicknamethe nick of time = "just in time" nickel the metallic element (Ni)5 cent coinnon-profit(adj.) not conducted with the aim of making a profit, usually for the purpose of health, education, social improvement, political or charitable aims(n.) a non-profit organization, particularly a 501(c) organization. There is no direct equivalent in Britain for the latter term which would include, but would not be restricted to all registered charities in Britain but, for example, building societies would also be considered non-profits in the United States.nonplussed bewildered, unsure how to respondunfazednoncea sex offender; in particular, a child molester (slang)the present momenta word used only oncea single-use token in a cryptographic protocol norneither * ("'She didn't come.' 'Nor did he.'")(Scotland & Ireland) than ("someone better nor me")and not, or (not) ("neither sad nor happy"; "he never eats, nor does he ever feel hungry") notch (n.) An indentation or incision on an edge or surface. (v.) Make notches in.(n.) A deep, narrow mountain pass.notion an idea, impression, whim, theory or conception small item, particularly of the type used in sewingnouscommon sense, alertness, shrewdness (informal)mind, the intellect, reason (philosophy) 

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