philippine

philippine — adjective

1. used for something linked to the Philippines, its land, or its people.

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

used for something linked to the Philippines, its land, or its people.

Example

The museum opened a room for Philippine history and old maps.

Philippine history — country-related subject

A storm crossed Philippine waters before reaching Taiwan on Tuesday.

Philippine + geographic noun

Common collocations
  • Philippine history
  • Philippine law
  • Philippine government
  • Philippine waters
  • Philippine islands
Synonyms
  • Filipino

    more usual for people, language, food, and culture in everyday English

  • from the Philippines

    plain descriptive wording, especially when you want a full phrase

  • Philippines-based

    best for a company or group operating in the country, not for every national connection

Antonyms
  • foreign

    used from the viewpoint of the Philippines for things from outside the country

  • non-Philippine

    formal contrast used in lists, reports, and official writing

Grammar Patterns

Philippine + noun

the Philippine + noun

Usage Note

Usually written with a capital P and placed before nouns such as government, history, islands, law, and sea. For people, language, food, or culture in everyday English, Filipino is often more usual than Philippine.

Common Mistakes

She loves Philippine people and Philippine food.
She loves Filipino people and Filipino food.
'Philippine' is common in official names and geography, but 'Filipino' is more usual for people and culture in everyday English.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

When you need an adjective for things connected with the Philippines, Philippine is correct, but it is not always the most natural choice. Philippine is especially common in official names, geography, politics, law, and institutions: Philippine law, the Philippine government, the Philippine Sea. Filipino is more usual for people, language, food, and culture in everyday English: Filipino workers, Filipino food, Filipino music. National is much broader and only means "of a nation"; by itself it does not tell you which country. Local is even less specific because it depends on where the speaker is standing. Say Philippine history or Philippine waters, but usually Filipino family or Filipino festival.

Philippine ↗Filipino ↗national ↗local ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the Philippine government
  • Philippine history
  • Philippine law
  • Philippine Sea

Etymology

SpanishEnglish

Philippine is the English adjective formed from Philippines. The country name goes back to the Spanish name Islas Filipinas, given in honour of King Philip II of Spain in the 1500s. English later used Philippine for things connected with the country, especially in formal names, geography, and government.