Jacobite

1 of 2

noun (1)

Jac·​o·​bite ˈja-kə-ˌbīt How to pronounce Jacobite (audio)
: a member of any of various Monophysite Eastern churches
especially : a member of the Monophysite Syrian church

Jacobite

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a partisan of James II of England or of the Stuarts after the revolution of 1688
Jacobitical adjective
Jacobitism noun

Examples of Jacobite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
In this febrile context, pretty much any political criticism could be deemed seditious, even if true, and writers and printers were regularly harassed, arrested, put on trial, and imprisoned (or even executed, as happened in 1693 and 1719 to the publishers of Jacobite tracts). Fara Dabhoiwala, Harpers Magazine, 4 June 2025 The Jacobite chugs along at a 50-mile-per-hour clip, taking riders through some of Scotland's most iconic landscapes. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025 The Grierson family’s commitment to Jacobite ideals was reflected even in its members’ names. Alexandra Cox, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025 Dyed-in-the-wool Jacobites survive mainly among Americans who attend Highland games and enroll their children in bagpipe classes. Charles King, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2012 Filippo Maria Bianchi/Getty The Jacobite Steam Train, Scotland This one’s for every Harry Potter fan awaiting that coveted letter. Shraddha Chowdhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Dec. 2023 One of the children depicted in the painting was the father of James Francis Edward Stuart, who attempted to usurp the throne in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 10 May 2024 Nell accomplishes plenty over the adventure’s first season, such that this common nobody even gets tangled up in the struggle between Queen Anne (Jodhi May) and the Jacobite traitors who would overthrow her. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Mar. 2024 After discovering that the Bugs were responsible for stealing the missing Jacobite gold off Jocasta's property, Jamie (Sam Heughan) banishes the couple from the Ridge. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 1 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Medieval Latin Jacobita, from Jacobus Baradaeus (Jacob Baradai) †578 Syrian monk

Noun (2)

Jacobus (James II)

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1689, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Jacobite was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Jacobite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Jacobite. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.

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