Arab

1 of 2

noun

Ar·​ab ˈa-rəb 

ˈer-əb;

 dialectal also  ˈā-ˌrab

1

a

: a member of an Arabic-speaking people

b

: a member of the Semitic people of the Arabian Peninsula

2

: arabian horse

Arab adjective

Arab

2 of 2

abbreviation

Arabian; Arabic

Examples of Arab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The convulsions of the Arab Spring further complicated Iran’s calculus. —Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025

More broadly, many of the Arab Gulf states, the other five members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, possess diversified arsenals of MLRS acquired over the years, with two exceptions, Kuwait and Oman, which are only known to operate one type each. —Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Officials in Dubai thwarted a group of thieves who stole a rare pink diamond and were planning to smuggle it out of the United Arab Emirates, police said Aug. 18. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025

In 1947, the United Nations voted to establish two states for two peoples—one Jewish, one Arab—subject to a list of conditions. —Ami Ayalon, Time, 18 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Latin Arabus, Arabs, from Greek Arab-, Araps, of Semitic origin; akin to Akkadian Arabu, Aribi desert nomads, Arabic A'rāb Bedouins

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing Arab

• anti-Arab
• Arab Spring

Rhymes for Arab

• scarab

Kids Definition

Arab

noun

Ar·​ab

ˈar-əb

1

a

: a member of the Semitic people of the Arabian Peninsula

b

: a member of an Arabic-speaking people

2

: arabian horse

Arab adjective