Jew

noun

ˈjü 

1

: a person belonging to a continuation through descent or conversion of the ancient Jewish people

2

: one whose religion is Judaism

3

a

: a member of the tribe of Judah

b

: israelite

4

: a member of a nation existing in Palestine from the sixth century b.c. to the first century a.d.

Examples of Jew in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One notable Jew, Simon Zukas, played a key role in Zambia’s struggle for independence in the 1950s. —Harry D. Wall, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2024

His mother was a Hungarian Jew who survived Bergen-Belsen, a Nazi concentration camp. —Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 17 June 2024

The new series, set to premiere on July 21, will explore what happens when a Pentecostal preacher’s son dates a Muslim woman, an Orthodox Jew courts a Catholic woman, an Amish man enters the world of a non-Amish woman, and a Muslim man finds romance with a conservative Catholic. —Brian Anthony Hernandez, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024

The newest offering in this vein is A Muslim & A Jew Go There, featuring the comedian and author of Jews Don't Count, David Baddiel, and Sayeeda Warsi, the Tory peer and author of The Enemy Within: A Tale of Muslim Britain. —The Week Uk, theweek, 6 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French ju, jeu, from Latin Judaeus, from Greek Ioudaios, from Hebrew Yĕhūdhī, from Yĕhūdhāh Judah, Jewish kingdom

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Jew

• Jew's harp
• Wandering Jew

Kids Definition

Jew

noun

ˈjü 

1

: one of the ancient Hebrews or a descendant of the ancient Hebrews

2

: one whose religion is Judaism

Jewish

ˈjü-ish

adjective