What term describes English used worldwide among speakers of different native languages?

What term describes English used worldwide among speakers of different native languages? The answer is English as a lingua franca.

English as a lingua franca, commonly abbreviated ELF, means using English for communication between people whose first languages are different. The speakers may be highly fluent, learners, or a mixture of both; the defining feature is the communicative situation, not conformity to one native-speaker variety.

ELF differs from English as a foreign language, which often emphasizes learning a language model associated with native-speaker norms. It also differs from “Globish,” a term sometimes used for a deliberately simplified form of international English. ELF can be simple or complex and may vary according to the people, purpose, and setting involved.

English became especially prominent in international science, business, aviation, diplomacy, higher education, and online communication during the twentieth century. Its global role reflects historical expansion, education systems, economic power, and mass media. That role is useful for communication, but it also raises concerns about linguistic inequality and pressure on multilingualism.