kibbutz

noun

kib·​butz ki-ˈbu̇ts How to pronounce kibbutz (audio) -ˈbüts How to pronounce kibbutz (audio)
plural kibbutzim ki-ˌbu̇t-ˈsēm How to pronounce kibbutz (audio)
-ˌbüt-
: a communal farm or settlement in Israel

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A kibbutz is a communal settlement in Israel in which all wealth is held in common and profits are reinvested in the settlement. The first kibbutz was founded in 1909; currently there are about 270, with a total population exceeding 120,000. Adults live in private quarters, while children are generally housed and cared for as a group. Meals are prepared and eaten communally. Members have regular meetings to discuss business and to take votes on matters requiring decisions. Jobs may be assigned by rotation, by choice, or by skill.

Examples of kibbutz in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Also taken hostage on Oct. 7 were Judith Raanan of Evanston and her teenage daughter Natalie, who had been visiting family at Nahal Oz kibbutz; the mother and daughter were released in late October. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 6 Oct. 2024 Two of her children were with their father and his partner at the kibbutz. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2024 Thirty people were abducted from the kibbutz that day. Nectar Gan, CNN, 1 Sep. 2024 Every once in a while, a special team comes to comb a specific area of the kibbutz, with investigators fanning out to search the ground. Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for kibbutz 

Word History

Etymology

Modern Hebrew qibbūṣ

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kibbutz was in 1926

Dictionary Entries Near kibbutz

Cite this Entry

“Kibbutz.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kibbutz. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

kibbutz

noun
kib·​butz kib-ˈu̇ts How to pronounce kibbutz (audio) -ˈüts How to pronounce kibbutz (audio)
plural kibbutzim -ˌu̇t-ˈsēm How to pronounce kibbutz (audio)
-ˌüt-
: a farming settlement in Israel that is owned and shared equally by the people who live there and run it

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