Israelite

1 of 2

noun

Is·​ra·​el·​ite ˈiz-r(ē-)ə-ˌlīt How to pronounce Israelite (audio)
: a descendant of the Hebrew patriarch Jacob
specifically : a native or inhabitant of the ancient northern kingdom of Israel

Israelite

2 of 2

adjective

: of or relating to Israel or to the Israelites

Examples of Israelite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Eighty-five people were killed in the attack on the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (Spanish initials: AMIA) and more than 300 were wounded. Joshua Marks, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2024 The blast killed 85 people at the Argentinian Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) and wounded over 300. Arturo Conde, NBC News, 18 July 2024 Beard was the assistant pastor at New Israelite Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago. Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 10 July 2024 Beard was the assistant pastor and Sunday school teacher for Chicago’s New Israelite Missionary Baptist Church. Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2024 Beard, a pastor assistant and Sunday school teacher at the New Israelite Missionary Baptist Church, has been with the congregation for nearly two decades, church officials told local WMAQ-TV. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 9 July 2024 Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Israelite received his MFA from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 20 June 2024 David Israelite is the president and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA). David Israelite, Billboard, 20 May 2024 Holdovers on the board in include Jewel Kilcher and NMPA execs David Israelite, Danielle Aguirre and Charlotte Sellmyer. Marc Schneider, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Late Latin Israelita, from Greek Israēlitēs, from Israēl

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Israelite was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near Israelite

Cite this Entry

“Israelite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Israelite. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Israelite

noun
Is·​ra·​el·​ite
ˈiz-r(ē-)ə-ˌlīt
: a descendant of the Hebrew patriarch Jacob
especially : a person born or living in the ancient kingdom of Israel
Israelite adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Israelite

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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