Introduction: World Englishes and applied linguistics

Abstract World Englishes explores the global spread and the diverse variations of English across different regions and cultures. Applied linguistics, as a discipline, focuses on the practical application of language studies to real‐world problems, such as language teaching, language in the professions and policy‐making. The intersection of World Englishes and applied linguistics emphasises the importance of understanding the dynamics of language use in global contexts. This introduction aims to provide an overview of how these fields intersect, the impact of sociocultural factors and the implications for language teaching, learning and research in diverse geographical locations. It introduces the articles in the Special Issue highlighting fresh theoretical perspectives and current debates as well as the application of World Englishes in various contexts. These novel contributions emphasise the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address the challenges of language use in an increasingly globalised world.