kibbutz

noun

kib·​butz ki-ˈbu̇ts  -ˈbüts 

plural kibbutzim ki-ˌbu̇t-ˈsēm 

-ˌbüt-

: a communal farm or settlement in Israel

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A kibbutz is a communal settlement in Israel in which all wealth is held in common and profits are reinvested in the settlement. The first kibbutz was founded in 1909; currently there are about 270, with a total population exceeding 120,000. Adults live in private quarters, while children are generally housed and cared for as a group. Meals are prepared and eaten communally. Members have regular meetings to discuss business and to take votes on matters requiring decisions. Jobs may be assigned by rotation, by choice, or by skill.

Examples of kibbutz in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gadi Haggai and Judith Weinstein Haggai were on their regular morning walk on their kibbutz, Nir Oz, when terrorists attacked on Oct. 7. —Philissa Cramer, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025

Sharabi’s wife and daughters were killed in the October 7 attack, according to the kibbutz. —Sophie Tanno and Mick Krever, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025

The three women released were: Doron Steinbrecher, 31, a veterinary nurse taken from kibbutz Kfar Aza; Emily Damari, 28, a British Israeli citizen also taken from the kibbutz and a key figure in the kibbutz's youth community; and Romi Gonen, 24, taken from the Nova Music Festival. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 20 Jan. 2025

They were all kidnapped from the same Israeli kibbutz, Nir Oz, near the border with Gaza — among the roughly 250 hostages taken that day. —Natan Odenheimer, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Modern Hebrew qibbūṣ

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for kibbutz

• inputs
• outputs
• rajputs
• throughputs
• foots
• puts

Kids Definition

kibbutz

noun

kib·​butz kib-ˈu̇ts  -ˈüts 

plural kibbutzim -ˌu̇t-ˈsēm 

-ˌüt-

: a farming settlement in Israel that is owned and shared equally by the people who live there and run it