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

Advertisement During captivity Sharabi ached for his life in Be’eri—which as a kibbutz, or commune, is the original expression of the interdependence on which Israel functions. —Eli Sharabi, Time, 1 Oct. 2025

The coins were found at Hukok, a kibbutz in northern Israel, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025

Additional perspectives from the kibbutz come from several members of the cooperative’s security team and the wife of its security lead. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2025

Ultimately, the general joined a group of Israeli special forces upon arrival at the kibbutz. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Sep. 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