gentile

1 of 2

noun

gen·​tile ˈjen-ˌtī(-ə)l 

plural gentiles

1

often capitalized : a person of a non-Jewish nation or of non-Jewish faith

especially : a Christian as distinguished from a Jew

2

: heathen entry 2 sense 1

3

often capitalized : a non-Mormon

gentile

2 of 2

adjective

1

often capitalized

a

: of or relating to the nations at large as distinguished from the Jews

also : of or relating to Christians as distinguished from the Jews

b

: of or relating to non-Mormons

2

: pagan

3

[borrowed from Latin gentīlis] : relating to a tribe or clan

Synonyms

Noun

• pagan

Examples of gentile in a Sentence

Noun

a strict sect that believes that fellowship with gentiles should exist only for the purposes of conversion

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

However, Piven’s character Harold May is Jewish, and amid the rise of Hitler in Germany, his ability to pass as a gentile could be a matter of life and death. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 Jan. 2025

The script swiftly navigates what could be sensitive waters, finding good-natured humor in the inflection points of Jewish and gentile relations without ever being disparaging. —Erin Strecker, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Want to watch a Jewish guy and a gentile woman humorously navigate their relationship? —Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025

The script swiftly navigates what could be sensitive waters, finding good-natured humor in the inflection points of Jewish and gentile relations without ever being disparaging. —Erin Strecker, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gentyl, gentile — more at gentle entry 2

Note: Historically the same word as gentle entry 2, with full vowel in the final syllable under influence of the Medieval and Late Latin source word.

Adjective

Middle English gentyl, gentile — more at gentle entry 1

Note: See note at gentile entry 1.

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for gentile

• argyle
• awhile
• beguile
• compile
• condyle
• defile
• erstwhile
• exile
• freestyle
• hairstyle
• lifestyle
• meanwhile

Kids Definition

gentile

noun

gen·​tile

ˈjen-ˌtīl

1

often capitalized : a person who is not Jewish

2

: a person who does not follow the God of the Bible

3

often capitalized : a person who is not a Mormon

gentile adjective often capitalized

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gentil, gentile "one who is not Jewish," derived from Latin gentilis "a member of the same family, clan, or nation," from gent-, gens "clan, family, race"; from the fact that the early Christians used the Latin word genes, plural of gens, as a translation of the Hebrew word gōyīm, literally, "the nations," used to refer to all non-Jewish people