Semite

[ sem-ahytor, especially British, see-mahyt ]

noun

1. a member of any of various ancient and modern peoples originating in southwestern Asia, including the Akkadians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs.
2. a Jew.
3. a member of any of the peoples descended from Shem, the eldest son of Noah.

Semite

/ ˈsiːmaɪt /

noun

1. a member of the group of Caucasoid peoples who speak a Semitic language, including the Jews and Arabs as well as the ancient Babylonians, Assyrians, and Phoenicians
2. another word for a Jew

Semite

1. Someone who belongs to the Semitic peoples. The Semites are supposedly descended from the biblical Shem, the eldest son of Noah .

Other Words From

• non-Semite noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Semite¹

First recorded in 1870–75; from New Latin sēmīta, from Late Latin Sēm (from Greek Sḗm, from Hebrew Shēm Shem ) + -īta -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of Semite¹

C19: from New Latin sēmīta descendant of Shem, via Greek Sēm, from Hebrew Shem

Example Sentences

“Clearly, one of the greatest Anti Semites of our time!”

From Washington Times

"As for the Eastern Jews, they are Semites," he added, referring to Sephardic Jews from the wider Middle East.

From BBC

“All peoples of the Mediterranean were Semites,” he said.

From New York Times

Denying that he was an anti-Semite, Fischer pointed out with a smirk that Arabs were Semites, too: “And I am definitely not anti-Arab, okay?”

From Literature

The Aristotelian system was Greek, but the Judeo-Christian story of creation was Semitic—and Semites didn’t have such a fear of the void.

From Literature