Ashkenazi

noun

plural Ashkenazim ˌäsh-kə-ˈnä-zəm How to pronounce Ashkenazi (audio)
ˌash-kə-ˈna-
: a member of one of the two great divisions of Jews comprising the eastern European Yiddish-speaking Jews compare sephardi
Ashkenazic
ˌäsh-kə-ˈnä-zik How to pronounce Ashkenazi (audio)
ˌash-kə-ˈna-
adjective

Examples of Ashkenazi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The company expects to further increase capital expenditures in 2026, Alphabet finance chief Anat Ashkenazi said on an earnings call. Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 23 July 2025 That is to say, Communism should not only be considered something many Jews participated in, but as a subjective site in which Ashkenazi Jews made and remade their identities as often first- and second-generation Americans. Literary Hub, 23 July 2025 Looking back at 2024, some prominent CFO hires that come to mind include Alphabet’s recruitment of Anat Ashkenazi from her CFO role at Eli Lilly, bringing her on as the tech company’s finance chief. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 1 July 2025 Kyle's family had learned, through a 23andMe test, that one side was Ashkenazi Jews. John Ruwitch, NPR, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for Ashkenazi

Word History

Etymology

Late Hebrew Ashkĕnāzī, from Ashkĕnāz, medieval rabbinical name for Germany

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Ashkenazi was in 1828

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ashkenazi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ashkenazi. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on Ashkenazi

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!