diaspora

[ dahy-as-per-uh, dee- ]

noun

1. Usually Diaspora. the scattering of the Jews to countries outside of ancient Palestine after the Babylonian captivity.
2. Often Diaspora.
   1. the body of Jews living in countries outside Israel.
   2. such countries collectively:

      Passover is celebrated for seven days in Israel, but for eight days by Jews living in the Diaspora.

3. Often Diaspora. any group that has been dispersed outside its traditional homeland, especially involuntarily, as Africans during the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
4. any group migration or flight from a country or region.

   Synonyms: scattering, displacement, migration, dissemination, dispersion

   Antonyms: return

5. any religious group living as a minority among people of the prevailing religion.
6. the spread or dissemination of something originally confined to a local, homogeneous group, as a language or cultural institution:

   the diaspora of English as a global language.

Diaspora

/ daɪˈæspərə /

noun

1. 1. the dispersion of the Jews after the Babylonian and Roman conquests of Palestine
   2. the Jewish communities outside Israel
   3. the Jews living outside Israel
   4. the extent of Jewish settlement outside Israel
2. (in the New Testament) the body of Christians living outside Palestine
3. often not capital a dispersion or spreading, as of people originally belonging to one nation or having a common culture
4. the descendants of Sub-Saharan African peoples living anywhere in the Western hemisphere

Other Words From

• di·as·po·ric [dahy-, uh, -, spawr, -ik, ‑-, spor, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diaspora¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Greek diasporá “scattering, dispersion”; dia-, spore

Word History and Origins

Origin of diaspora¹

C19: from Greek: a scattering, from diaspeirein to disperse, from dia- + speirein to scatter, sow; see spore

Example Sentences

Two siblings of Nigerian and Grenadian heritage founded Chuku’s as a way to introduce the uninitiated to Nigerian dining, and as a way for members of the diaspora to connect with their culture.

From New York Times

The country has close relations with the US which is home to a large Haitian diaspora.

From BBC

Some members of the Puerto Rican diaspora in the US have expressed outrage at Tony Hinchliffe’s routine.

From BBC

Residents of Puerto Rico - a US island territory in the Caribbean - are unable to vote in presidential elections, but the large diaspora in the US can.

From BBC

Its residents are unable to vote in US presidential elections, but there is a large diaspora across the US who can.

From BBC

Related Words

• exodus