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Definition of ernest

ernest

/ˈɜːrnɪst/
Er · nest
Plural:Ernests
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ernest Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A male given name of Germanic origin meaning serious or resolute.

Example

"They decided to name their newborn son Ernest in honor of his great-grandfather."

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse the proper given name 'Ernest' with its homophone 'earnest', an adjective meaning sincere and serious (or a noun used in the phrase 'in earnest'). This distinction forms the central pun of Oscar Wilde's famous play 'The Importance of Being Earnest'.

• Nearby Words

erlenmeyer
erm
ermine
ernest
ernie
ernst
erode

Word Origin & Etymology

Introduced into England from Germany by the House of Hanover in the 18th century, deriving from the Old High German name 'Ernust', meaning 'seriousness', 'resoluteness', or 'vigor'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ernest. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ernest
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