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
Yet later, Jocasta whispers to Ellen that Dougal — who is making promises to Stuart supporters in his campaign to run the clan — has promised his sister’s hand to a Jacobite leader in exchange for that faction’s vote. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025 Together, the pair deal with the ongoing Jacobite rising and eventually move to North Carolina, just ahead of the American Revolution. Nicholas Kobe, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025 He’s vehemently opposed to getting Clan MacKenzie involved in the Jacobite uprising, which once again puts him at odds with Dougal. Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025 The show presents a nuanced portrayal of wartime and post-war London at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as the rugged Highlands on the eve of an early Jacobite rebellion. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 31 July 2025 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

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 29 Aug. 2025.

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