Arabian

1 of 2

noun

Ara·​bi·​an ə-ˈrā-bē-ən 

1

: a native or inhabitant of Arabia

2

: arabian horse

Arabian

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Arabia or the people of Arabia

Arabian music/art

Some people say the unicorn myth began long ago in the Arabian desert …

—Bet Hennefrund

… bad paintings of Arabian street scenes …

—Paul Karr et al.

These days the British are better acquainted with Arab customs, Arabian history, and the Arabic language, and with Arabs themselves, whose language we have been borrowing for six centuries.

—Philip Howard

… an exquisitely beautiful Arabian girl …

—Maurice Richardson

For authenticity, even the jockeys would be garbed in Arabian-type costumes.

—Carl Hiaasen

Arabian food includes a lot of spiced lamb and rice …

—Cleo Murphy

2

: of, relating to, involving, or being Arabian horses

… Thoroughbred, Morgan, and Arabian stallions …

—Alexander Fuller

Although dressage shows have been recognized by the American Horse Shows Association for only twenty years, they number just after hunter/jumper and Arabian competitions as the United States' third largest showing group.

—Wendy Insinger

Examples of Arabian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Eleven Ventures was founded by Saudi Arabian Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud. — Chase Jordan august 19, Charlotte Observer, 19 Aug. 2026

After the war began, Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco came to depend on a pipeline that runs along the width of the country from the Persian Gulf to a port on the Red Sea. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

Jacob Tanswell Aston Villa are aware of long-standing interest from Al Hilal in Ollie Watkins, with the Saudi Arabian club huge admirers and have been exploring the possibility. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Botanists from across California and Arizona, plus Huntington specialists and a naturalist based in Chile, will present sessions on a variety of succulents, including Dudleya, boojum (Fouquieria columnaris) and Arabian aloe (Aloe rubroviolacea). — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Arabian

• Arabian horse
• Saudi Arabian

Rhymes for Arabian

• fabian

Kids Definition

Arabian

adjective

Ara·​bi·​an

ə-ˈrā-bē-ən

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Arabia or its people

Arabian noun