Zion

noun

Zi·​on ˈzī-ən 

variants or less commonly Sion

ˈsī-ən 

1

a

: the Jewish people : israel

b

: the Jewish homeland that is symbolic of Judaism or of Jewish national aspiration

c

: the ideal nation or society envisaged by Judaism

2

: heaven

3

: utopia

Synonyms

• above
• bliss
• elysian fields
• Elysium
• empyrean
• heaven
• kingdom come
• New Jerusalem
• paradise
• sky

Examples of Zion in a Sentence

found the path to Zion by doing penance for the wayward ways of her youth

Robert Owen's New Harmony, Indiana, was but one of many attempts to establish an American Zion.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Sion, from Old English, citadel in Palestine which was the nucleus of Jerusalem, from Late Latin, from Greek Seiōn, from Hebrew Ṣīyōn

First Known Use

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

Geographical Definition

Zion

geographical name

Zi·​on ˈzī-ən 

1

or Mount Zion or Sion

ˈsī-ən 

ˈzī-

or Mount Sion hill in eastern Jerusalem, Israel

Note: Originally the stronghold of Jerusalem, Zion was conquered by David and in ancient times was the site of the Jewish Temple.

2

city in northeastern Illinois north of Waukegan population 24,413