Arabic

1 of 2

noun

Ar·​a·​bic ˈa-rə-bik 

ˈer-ə-

: a Semitic language originally of the Arabs of the Hejaz and Nejd that is now the prevailing speech of a wide region of southwestern Asia and northern Africa

Arabic

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or constituting the language Arabic

… Arabic neologisms of the nineteenth century …

—Bernard Lewis

His bibliography contains no classical Arabic texts and only a handful of dubiously transliterated recent Arabic titles …

—Pierre Cachia

… edited and reviewed by Arabic scholars in Paris …

—Edwin McDowell

2

: expressed in or utilizing Arabic numerals

21 is an Arabic number.

Arabic notation

3

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Arabia or the Arabs

As Arabic music permeates various other sounds, so are western sounds finding their way into various Arabic musics.

—Hank Bordowitz

The Middle East meets the Wild West in this variation on Arabic hummus.

—Steven Raichlen

There still exist some folk instruments in Portugal whose names indicate their Arabic origin.

—Alexander Buchner

Examples of Arabic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For the billboard's messages to have the broadest reach possible, the governor's office said they had been translated into Spanish in Central America and Mexico, and Arabic, Chinese and Russian in Northern Mexico and along the Texas-Mexico border. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 20 Dec. 2024

In Arabic that means steadfastness or steadfast resilience. —Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Dec. 2024

Adjective

With a career spanning over four decades, Abdul Majeed Abdullah has become a cornerstone of Arabic music, and his influence shows no signs of fading. —Hala Mustafa, Billboard, 23 Dec. 2024

The feature can currently translate from Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and more. —Emma Roth, The Verge, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Arabic

• Arabic alphabet
• Arabic numeral
• Hindu-Arabic

Kids Definition

Arabic

1 of 2 adjective

Ar·​a·​bic ˈar-ə-bik 

1

: arabian, arab

2

: expressed in or making use of Arabic numerals

Arabic

2 of 2 noun

: a Semitic language that is the chief language of a wide region of southwestern Asia and northern Africa

Medical Definition

arabic

see gum arabic