Arabian

1 of 2

noun

Ara·​bi·​an ə-ˈrā-bē-ən 

1

: a native or inhabitant of Arabia

2

: arabian horse

Arabian

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Arabia or the people of Arabia

Arabian music/art

Some people say the unicorn myth began long ago in the Arabian desert …

—Bet Hennefrund

… bad paintings of Arabian street scenes …

—Paul Karr et al.

These days the British are better acquainted with Arab customs, Arabian history, and the Arabic language, and with Arabs themselves, whose language we have been borrowing for six centuries.

—Philip Howard

… an exquisitely beautiful Arabian girl …

—Maurice Richardson

For authenticity, even the jockeys would be garbed in Arabian-type costumes.

—Carl Hiaasen

Arabian food includes a lot of spiced lamb and rice …

—Cleo Murphy

2

: of, relating to, involving, or being Arabian horses

… Thoroughbred, Morgan, and Arabian stallions …

—Alexander Fuller

Although dressage shows have been recognized by the American Horse Shows Association for only twenty years, they number just after hunter/jumper and Arabian competitions as the United States' third largest showing group.

—Wendy Insinger

Examples of Arabian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The next day, the men found her, arriving at the bookshop carrying Saudi Arabian dates for her as a thank-you. — Emily Harter, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

Arabian red foxes—commonly found in the emirate—occasionally appear against a stone ledge outside the windows. — Mona Basharat, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2026

Most of them are the deep red of Portugal, but others wear jerseys from his time at Sporting CP in Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and now the Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 24 June 2026

The modern interior combines contemporary coffee-shop design with Arabian flourishes, and Baladi recently opened a second location in Athens. — Christopher Hassiotis, AJC.com, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Arabian

• Arabian horse
• Saudi Arabian

Rhymes for Arabian

• fabian

Kids Definition

Arabian

adjective

Ara·​bi·​an

ə-ˈrā-bē-ən

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Arabia or its people

Arabian noun