Arab

1 of 2

noun

Ar·​ab ˈa-rəb 

ˈer-əb;

 dialectal also  ˈā-ˌrab

1

a

: a member of an Arabic-speaking people

b

: a member of the Semitic people of the Arabian Peninsula

2

: arabian horse

Arab adjective

Arab

2 of 2

abbreviation

Arabian; Arabic

Examples of Arab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Women face higher unemployment rates in many regions, with rates exceeding 20% in Northern Africa and the Arab States. —Marianne Lehnis, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

The projects has previously received support from Doha and from the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture. —Ben Croll, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024

The Professional Fights League has signed a multiyear agreement with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and Dubai Sports Council (DSC) to bring regular pro mixed-martial arts bouts to the United Arab Emirates. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 20 Nov. 2024

The group is now popular across the region, too: in a poll conducted by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in 16 Arab countries a few months after the October 7 attack, nearly 70 percent of respondents expressed support for Hamas. —John Spencer, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Latin Arabus, Arabs, from Greek Arab-, Araps, of Semitic origin; akin to Akkadian Arabu, Aribi desert nomads, Arabic A'rāb Bedouins

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing Arab

• anti-Arab
• Arab Spring

Kids Definition

Arab

noun

Ar·​ab

ˈar-əb

1

a

: a member of the Semitic people of the Arabian Peninsula

b

: a member of an Arabic-speaking people

2

: arabian horse

Arab adjective