Arabic

1 of 2

noun

Ar·​a·​bic ˈa-rə-bik 

ˈer-ə-

: a Semitic language originally of the Arabs of the Hejaz and Nejd that is now the prevailing speech of a wide region of southwestern Asia and northern Africa

Arabic

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or constituting the language Arabic

… Arabic neologisms of the nineteenth century …

—Bernard Lewis

His bibliography contains no classical Arabic texts and only a handful of dubiously transliterated recent Arabic titles …

—Pierre Cachia

… edited and reviewed by Arabic scholars in Paris …

—Edwin McDowell

2

: expressed in or utilizing Arabic numerals

21 is an Arabic number.

Arabic notation

3

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

As Arabic music permeates various other sounds, so are western sounds finding their way into various Arabic musics.

—Hank Bordowitz

The Middle East meets the Wild West in this variation on Arabic hummus.

—Steven Raichlen

There still exist some folk instruments in Portugal whose names indicate their Arabic origin.

—Alexander Buchner

Examples of Arabic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In a 2023 study from Australia, researchers submitted more than 12,000 job applications under Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Arabic, Chinese, English, Greek or Indian names to more than 4,000 job advertisements to investigate hiring discrimination. —Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 11 July 2024

The row of offices is just feet away from the men's and women’s prayer rooms at the center, and a quaint lobby is lined with refreshments and educational handouts in both English and Arabic. —Allie Jacobs, Detroit Free Press, 7 July 2024

Adjective

With a focus on the city’s Arab and Emirati musical heritage, the annual observance will introduce audiences to Arabic jazz by spotlighting the decades-long interplay between local musical traditions — through classical instruments such as the oud, qanun and ney — and jazz. —Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 16 July 2024

Yet the original comic character was considered by some to be problematic, with Sabra often fighting Arabic terrorist tropes. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Arabic

• Arabic alphabet
• Arabic numeral
• Hindu-Arabic

Kids Definition

Arabic

1 of 2 adjective

Ar·​a·​bic ˈar-ə-bik 

1

: arabian, arab

2

: expressed in or making use of Arabic numerals

Arabic

2 of 2 noun

: a Semitic language that is the chief language of a wide region of southwestern Asia and northern Africa

Medical Definition

arabic

see gum arabic