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

Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen—who attacked more than 100 vessels during the HamasIsrael war—this week declared an embargo of Saudi Arabian shipping in the Red Sea, putting more commercial vessels in the line of fire. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 27 July 2026

Ronaldo plays soccer for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr but is now 41-years-old and is looking to the future. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 July 2026

Both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs originally were supposed to take place in April. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 26 July 2026

Houthi militants based in Yemen claimed to have struck two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday, days after the group announced a naval blockade on Saudi ships. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 23 July 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