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List of American words not widely used in the United Kingdom

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0-9

101
(pronounced "one-oh-one") label for introductory college courses ("English 101"), figuratively denoting something intended for beginners ("real estate 101")
U.S. Highway 101 (used with "the" in Southern California)
40 (forty)
a 40-acre parcel of land, specifically one sixteenth of a section, constituting the smallest unit of agricultural land commonly surveyed ("back 40," "front 40"); "back 40" also refers to an undeveloped plot of land (as on a farm, ranch, etc.) of unspecified size
401(k)
(pronounced "four-oh-one-kay") a type of employer-sponsored retirement plan, named after the section of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code that established it. See article
411
(pronounced "four-one-one"; colloquial) information about something (from 4-1-1, directory assistance number)
49er (forty-niner)
a person who went to California to seek a fortune in the 1849 California Gold Rush; (also niner) a member of the San Francisco 49ers football team

A

acclimate
(verb) (UK usually
affirmative action
(UK
ahold
(orig. dialectal) hold, grip; used in phrases such as "get ahold of," "take ahold of," "grab ahold of," etc.
airplane
fixed-wing aircraft. Alteration of UK aeroplane, probably influenced by aircraft.
AMBER alert
a missing person alert. Backronym for "America's Missing
amtrac
Landing Vehicle Tracked (not to be confused with Amtrak, the railroad passenger corporation)
anchorman/anchorwoman
news broadcaster, news presenter (US also anchor [DM], news anchor; UK
arugula, rugola
the herb also known as rocket or garden rocket
aside from *
apart from (both phrases are common in US usage)
automobile *
(UK prefers motorcar [DM] as the formal term; car [DM] is used in both UK & US)

B

baby carriage
pushable vehicle for transporting babies, also called buggy or regionally baby coach (UK
in back of
behind ("She was standing there in back of my chair" -- Bob Dylan). Complementary to in front of; used to be objected to
backhoe
a piece of excavating equipment (UK usually JCB, genericized trademark)
backyard
yard [DM] behind the house (UK
ballpark
a baseball stadium; a range of approximation or accuracy ("in the ballpark"; "a ballpark figure")
Band-Aid *
(trademark) bandage for minor wounds, (UK
barnyard *
a farmyard
bayou
(from Louisiana French) an often marshy slow-moving minor watercourse, usually located in a low-lying area (as in the Mississippi River delta region of the southern United States)
bedroom community
a commuter town or suburb (UK
in behalf of
on behalf of; the two phrases are often used interchangeably, although traditionally on behalf of means "in support of" and in behalf of means "in the interest of." In behalf of is obsolescent in UK usage (where behalf of, without a preposition, is also found), but still current in US, although not as common as on behalf of
blacktop
pavement [DM] composed of asphalt concrete; also a verb ("to blacktop a parking lot") (UK
blinders
(on a horse) (UK
boardwalk
a walkway usually made of planking, typically along a beach (as that of Atlantic City)
booger
(slang) a piece of nasal mucus (UK
boondocks
(also the boonies) rough country; a very rural location or town; backwoods. From Tagalog.
boondoggle
(see article)
Botts' dot
see raised pavement marker (UK
breadbox
(UK usually bread bin)
broil
to cook food with high heat with the heat applied directly to the food (UK
brownstone
a type of residential building found in New York and other large cities
bubbler
a drinking fountain (used especially, but not exclusively, in Wisconsin and some parts of New England); originally, the term referred to the freshwater drum
buddy, bud
a friend; also used as a term of address (UK similar
bullhorn
a megaphone (UK
burglarize
to carry out a burglary (UK
busboy
junior restaurant worker assisting waiting staff, table clearer, water pourer etc.
butte
an isolated hill with steep sides and a small flat top

C

caboose
a train car attached usually to the rear mainly for the crew's use (UK
canola
a trademarked variety of rapeseed
carhop
someone serving food at a drive-in, often on rollerskates
catercorner
(or catercornered, catacorner, kitty-corner, catty-corner, etc.) (adverb) diagonally, diagonally opposite ("The house looks catercorner to mine"). Catercorner is the original form (from cater = four), but the forms kitty-corner and catty-corner (folk etymology) are usual in speech, the former especially in the North and the latter in the Midland and South. Sometimes (dialectal, regional) also kitty/catty wampus/wumpus (unclearly derived), which can also mean "awry."
central air
central air conditioning
ChapStick™
(genericized trademark) a lip balm (also used in UK)
checkers
(also Canada & Australia) a popular board game (UK & New Zealand
charge account
in a store or shop (UK
checking account
the type of bank account used for drawing checks; distinguished from savings account. Spelled chequing account in Canada. (UK
chifforobe
a combination of wardrobe and chest of drawers (from chiffonier + wardrobe)
chutzpah *
nerve, cheek, gall or effrontery (from Yiddish)
cilantro
the herb coriander
cookout
informal meal cooked and eaten outdoors, a cross between a picnic and a barbecue
cotton candy
spun sugar often sold at fairs (UK, NZ
counterclockwise
(UK
coveralls
a one-piece outer protective garment (UK
critter
(informal) a creature; an animal (as a horse in the South or a bull in the North); often used jocularly (as in "congresscritter," a congressperson); sometimes a term of endearment
crapshoot
risky and uncertain venture; from a dice game
cuss
(from "curse") to swear; (as noun) a cantankerous person

D

diaper
(UK
dime
a 10-cent coin; five-and-dime, dime store, a store selling cheap merchandise; nickel[DM]-and-dime, insignificant; a dime a dozen, so abundant as to be worth little; on a dime, in a small space ("turn on a dime") or immediately ("stop on a dime.") In Britain, the old sixpence, a small coin worth the equivalent of 2.5p, was formerly used in similar expressions before decimal currency was introduced in the early 1970s.
direct deposit
a method of payment by bank transfer, similar to European giro
dishrag
a cloth for washing dishes; a dishcloth
dish towel
a towel for drying dishes (UK
downspout
pipe for carrying rainwater from a gutter to the ground (UK
downtown
(noun, adv., adj.) (in, to, toward, or related to) either the lower section or the business center of a city or town—compare uptown, see article for New York City usage; (noun) in basketball, far from the basket (as outside the three-point line)—used of a shot
driver license, driver's license
(UK, Hong Kong, Singapore
drugstore
a pharmacy, or a store selling candy, magazines, etc. along with medicines (UK approx.
drywall
gypsum board, plasterboard, or any process that builds interior walls without the use of water
Dude
A male
Dumpster™
(in danger of becoming genericized) large trash receptacle (UK approx.

E

eggplant
the plant Solanum melongena (UK
English muffin
(see article)
eminent domain
the power of the government to take private property for public use (similar to UK, Ire, NZ
envision
to envisage
every which way *
in or toward all directions; also, in a disordered or irregular way ("Documents scattered every which way")
expressway
(see article)
exurb
(see article)

F

fanny pack
pouch-like bag that ties or snaps around the wearer's waist (UK
faucet
water outlet (UK & US sometimes tap [DM])
flack
a publicist or press agent
flatware
knives, spoons, and forks (as opposed to holloware); (UK usually cutlery [DM], although flatware is used in the UK antiques trade as a specialist word)
freeway
(see article)
freshman *
a first-year student in college or high school (also fresher in UK)
(French) fries
pieces of potato that have been deep-fried (UK distinguishes between thick chips [DM] and thin fries)

G

gasoline
(esp. in the past also spelled gasolene; abbreviated gas) (UK
gee-whiz
as an interjection, a euphemism for "Jesus"; as an adjective, denotes something characterized by or meant to cause excitement or sensation ("gee-whiz technology"; "a gee-whiz attitude")
general delivery
(UK
green thumb
(UK
gridiron
field of play for American football
grifter *
a con artist, transient swindler, or professional gambler
gum band
(regional) rubber band

H

half bath
a bathroom [DM] that lacks a shower or bathtub (i.e., a bathroom which lacks a place to actually bathe.) Equivalent to a British W.C.
hickey
temporary mark or bruise on one's skin resulting from kissing or sucking; love bite
highball
(see article)
hobo
(see article)
(hominy) grits
coarsely ground corn boiled for breakfast, especially in the Southern U.S.
play hooky
to play truant from school; to cut class (UK also
horseback riding
simply horse riding in the UK
howdy
(short for how do you do) casual greeting that originated in the Southern States, but understood everywhere else, although considered outdated
HVAC
Heating + Ventilation + Air Conditioning

I

intimate apparel
Fancy name for underwear, used especially in commercials.

J

Jell-o
(trademark) gelatin dessert (UK
john
(slang) a toilet; also, the client of a prostitute
John Doe
defendant or victim (as in a lawsuit), or a person whose identity is unknown or is intended to be anonymous; also, an average man; compare John Q. Public. The female equivalent is Jane Doe.
John Hancock
a signature (from the name of the President of the Second Continental Congress, who signed first the United States Declaration of Independence) ("put your John Hancock here")
John Q. Public
the common man, typical member of the general public. Also stated as Joe Blow.

K

kitty-corner
see catercorner

L

ladybug
lady beetle, ladybird
learner's permit
a restricted license for a person learning to drive, who has not yet passed the necessary driver's test (rules vary from state to state) (UK
left field
a source of unexpected or illogical questions, ideas, etc. ("that proposal came out of left field"); for the baseball sense see left fielder
letter carrier
a person who delivers mail to residences and businesses; also mail carrier, mailman (UK
license plate, license tag
vehicle registration plate (UK

M

mail carrier, mailman
a person who delivers mail to residences and businesses; also letter carrier (UK
math
mathematics (UK
maven *
(from Yiddish) an expert
midsize
medium size; when applied to a car, it means (what most British drivers would consider) large
Miranda
(Miranda warning) the warning (usually "You have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law." etc.) given to criminal suspects when arrested; (Miranda rights) the right of a criminal suspect when arrested; hence mirandize, to recite the Miranda warning to (a criminal suspect)
mom, mommy, mama, mamma, momma *
mother (UK often
mom-and-pop
single-family operated small business ("a mom-and-pop store")
mortician
an undertaker, funeral director

N

narc
law enforcement narcotics agent; but 'to narc on' someone is to inform on them to an authority figure (This term is also used in New Zealand)
newsdealer
person or shop that sells newspapers (UK
New York minute
see New York minute (time)
normalcy
normality

O

off of *
(preposition) off (very common in speech, although objected to by some; nonstandard, chiefly dialectal in UK)
oftentimes *
often (archaic in Britain but colloquial in America, especially clause-initially)
ornery
irritable, crotchety, cranky (from ordinary)
ouster
ousting, overthrow ("the ouster of a regime"; "the ouster of the CEO")
outage *
temporary suspension of operation ("a power outage", UK

P

pacifier
(UK
pantyhose
close fitting coverings of the body from the waist to the feet, most frequently worn by women (UK
paper route
a regular series of newspaper deliveries (UK
parking lot
a usually outside area for the parking of automotive vehicles (UK
penny-ante
(adj.) petty, insignificant -- from penny ante, poker played for a very low ante
Popsicle
(trademark in danger of becoming genericized) (UK
plastic wrap
polymer material for sealing food items (UK
pre-authorized payment/withdrawal
(UK
public holiday
(UK

R

raincheck *
(see article)
raised pavement marker
commonly called reflector or Botts' dot (UK
rappel
to descend on a rope (UK
Realtor
(trademark) a real estate agent (UK
recision
a cancellation ("This bill would authorize the recision of the adult day health care license"). Now rare in the UK; a different word from rescission
roil
to render muddy by stirring up the dregs of; as, to roil wine, cider, etc., in casks or bottles; to roil a spring; also, to disquiet or disturb
roustabout
an unskilled laborer, especially at an oil field, at a circus, or on a ship
row house
(UK
rutabaga
the turnip Brassica napus napobrassica (UK

S

Saran wrap
(Saran is a trademark) see plastic wrap (Australia, New Zealand
sawbuck
(see article)
savings account
bank account on which interest is paid; distinguished from checking/cheque account. (UK
scallion *
also used in Ireland; known as spring onion in Great Britain
shill *
(see article). Recently popularized by eBay ("shill bidding")
shuck
the husk of an ear of Indian corn, an oyster shell, etc.; used in plural to mean something worthless or as an interjection ("shucks!"); (verb) to remove the shuck; also, to discard, get rid of ("I shucked my coat")
sidewalk
usually paved path for pedestrian traffic, often constructed of concrete (UK
sneaker
(usually pl.) a form of footwear (UK
soda fountain
(see article)
sophomore
a second-year college or high school student; (adj.) the second in a series; hence sophomoric, conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature
spyglass
a telescope or set of lenses used to observe subjects at distance
station wagon
(also Australia, New Zealand) automobile with extended rear cargo area (UK
steam shovel
a large mechanical excavator
stickshift, stick
(car with) manual transmission, as opposed to an automatic (UK
stool pigeon, stoolie
police informer (UK
stoplight
a traffic signal, or a vehicle brake light
streetcar
vehicle on rails for passenger transportation (q.v.) usually within a city; also called trolley [DM] or trolley car if electrically powered by means of a trolley (UK
stroller
vehicle for baby transportation featuring the child in a sitting position, usually facing forward (UK

T

taffy
a type of chewy candy; see taffy (candy)
tailpipe
exhaust pipe
teeter(-totter), teeterboard
a seesaw
telecast
to broadcast by television
teleprompter
(see article) (UK
thumbtack
short nail or pin with a large, rounded metal head (UK
trackless trolley
a trolleybus
transportation
(UK
trash can
(UK
turnpike
(see article)
turn signal
direction-indicator lights (US also directionals; UK usually indicators; US & UK also blinkers)
two-bit
literally, worth 25 cents (a bit is an eighth of a dollar); figuratively, worth very little, insignificant (informal)
two cents, two cents' worth
an opinion, a piece of one's mind (as in, "I'm gonna go down there and give him my two cents") - (UK similar

U

undershirt
an upper undergarment with no collar, and with short or no sleeves, worn next to the skin under a shirt (UK
upscale
relating to goods targeted at high-income consumers; upmarket
uptown
(noun, adj., adv.) (in, to, toward, or related to) either the upper section or the residential district of a city; e.g. in Manhattan, New York City the term refers to the northern end of Manhattan, generally speaking, north of 59th Street; see also Uptown, Minneapolis; Uptown, Chicago; Uptown New Orleans; compare downtown

V

vacationer
someone taking a vacation [DM] (UK

W

washcloth, washrag
(UK
weatherization
(UK
wetback
(offensive, disparaging) an illegal immigrant from Mexico or Latin America. So called as they are presumed to have swum the Rio Grande river to have entered the USA
windshield
the front window of an automobile (UK
woodsy
abundant in trees, suggestive of woods; woody

X

Xing
(on road signs) crossing (as in "Ped Xing", pedestrian crossing)

Y

Y'all, ya'll
(regional — Southern American, African-American, and Appalachian) contraction of You all, used as second-person dual or plural pronoun ("Y'all come back now, ya hear!")
yellow light
as in the color at a stoplight (q.v.) or traffic lights. In the UK, this is referred to as an amber light. In the UK, the red and amber light together immediately in advance of the green (giving a light sequence of 1.red, 2.red and amber (together), 3.green, 4.amber (alone), 5.red).
yinz or yunz
1. (regional — Pittsburgh & western Pennsylvania) plural you, as in
2. (regional — Southern U.S.) you all or y'all (sometimes used without a verb, as in, "Yinz late again", or "Yinz stupid")

Z

zee
pronunciation of the last letter of the alphabet (UK, New Zealand, Canada, Australia
zinger
a witty, often caustic remark; something supposed to cause surprise or shock
ZIP code
(for Zone Improvement Plan) the postal code used by the United States Postal Service (UK & Australia equivalent
zucchini
(also Canada & Australia) the plant Cucurbita pepo (UK & New Zealand

 

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