Arabic

1 of 2

noun

Ar·​a·​bic ˈa-rə-bik How to pronounce Arabic (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
That’s set up Talabat (which means orders in Arabic) to be the unlikely steward of what is set to be this year’s largest tech initial public offering. Iain Martin, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 Shooting is set for Spring 2025 and will be filmed in Hebrew, Arabic and English. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The Arabic numerals are cleanly delineated, while the chapter ring is delicately drawn, with slightly thicker five-minute markers. Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 An Arabic language infographic on treating refeeding syndrome, a serious condition resulting from chronic starvation, was widely on social media in the wake of the prisons' opening. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Arabic 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Arabic was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near Arabic

Cite this Entry

“Arabic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Arabic. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

Arabic

1 of 2 adjective
Ar·​a·​bic ˈar-ə-bik How to pronounce Arabic (audio)
1
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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!