Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Habiru

plural noun
Ha·​bi·​ru | \ ˈhäbēˌrü, həˈbē(ˌ)rü\
variants: or less commonly Habiri \ -​ē(ˌ)rē \

Definition of Habiru

: a nomadic people mentioned in Assyro-Babylonian literature from 2000 b.c. on and often identified as the Hebrews of the Bible

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for Habiru

Babylonian khabiru

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about Habiru

Statistics for Habiru

Look-up Popularity

Comments on Habiru

What made you want to look up Habiru? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

substantive

important, real, or meaningful

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games