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

The brash, self-determining, self-reliant figure Hurston conjures up as the prototype of the Jew is Hurston herself, a woman who would not let others tell her how to live. —Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025

But the notion that Americans must accept a little terrorism and virulent Jew hatred along with their charitable works imposes a false choice on American taxpayers. —The Editors, National Review, 9 Jan. 2025

Begin was an Orthodox Jew—the first non-secular leader of Israel and the founder of the Likud Party—and had lost his parents in the Holocaust. —Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024

But at some universities today, being a Jew on campus has become an act of courage, every walk to class a gauntlet of verbal bullying and physical harassment. —Joshua M. Davidson, New York Daily News, 29 Dec. 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

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