What does limey mean?
Limey is an informal word for a British person, especially a British sailor. It is most common in American English and often carries a humorous or teasing tone, although historical uses could be openly derogatory, invoking stereotypes about British food, accents, and behavior. In Britain, the word may occur in jokes, self-deprecating remarks, and descriptions of naval culture. As an adjective, limey means British or associated with British sailors, as in “a limey accent.” The word is memorable because of its connection with lime juice: British sailors famously added lime juice to their drinking water to help prevent scurvy, and the nickname developed from that maritime practice. Although the term can still evoke older national stereotypes, it remains a familiar and distinctive piece of English slang, particularly in stories and films about sailors and wartime service.
An informal term for a British person, especially a British sailor.
"The crew welcomed the limey aboard as soon as the ship docked."
Often humorous or teasing, but can be derogatory when used to reinforce stereotypes about British people.
Informal, British; especially associated with British sailors or British people.
"He spoke with a distinctly limey accent."
Commonly used in maritime contexts and informal descriptions of British identity or manner.
The standard plural is limeys.
"The old limeys gathered around the radio in the mess hall."
A word made from lime: British sailors earned the label after using lime juice to help prevent scurvy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How limey is actually used
Informal and strongly associated with maritime and military settings. In American English it can be humorous or mildly teasing, but in some contexts it is derogatory, especially when it invokes an outdated stereotype of a British person.
Easily confused with limey
Limy is a less common spelling variant of limey and may also be used for something containing lime.
Lime is the citrus fruit or the calcium-based substance, whereas limey is a label for a British person or British sailor.