Israel

noun

Is·​ra·​el ˈiz-rē-əl  -(ˌ)rā- 

 also  ˈis-,

 or  ˈiz-rəl

1

: jacob sense 2

2

: the Jewish people

3

: a people chosen by God

Israel adjective

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek Israēl, from Hebrew Yiśrā'ēl

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Israel

• Beta Israel

Geographical Definition

Israel

geographical name

Is·​ra·​el ˈiz-rē(-ə)l 

-(ˌ)rā(-ə)l,

 also  ˈis-,

 or  ˈiz-rəl

1

kingdom in ancient Palestine comprising the lands occupied by the Hebrew people; established about 1025 b.c.; divided about 933 b.c. into a southern kingdom (Judah) and a northern kingdom (Israel)

2

or Northern Kingdom or Ephraim

ˈē-frē-əm 

the northern portion of the Hebrew kingdom after the division; capital Samaria

3

country in southwestern Asia bordering on the Mediterranean Sea in the northwest, the Sinai Peninsula in the southwest, the Gulf of Aqaba at the southern tip, and the Dead Sea on the east; a republic established 1948; capital Jerusalem area 7993 square miles (20,782 square kilometers), population 7,412,200 see palestine see also israeli