Arab

¹

[ ar-uhb ]

noun

1. a member of a Semitic people inhabiting Arabia and other countries of the Middle East.
2. a member of any Arabic-speaking people.
3. Arabian horse.
4. Also called A·rab·ber [ey, -rab-er]. Sometimes Offensive. a street peddler.
5. Archaic: Sometimes Offensive. street arab.

adjective

1. of or relating to Arabs.
2. Arabian ( def 1 ).
3. Arabic.

Arab.

²

abbreviation for

1. Arabia.
2. Arabian.
3. Arabic.

Arab

noun

1. a member of a Semitic people originally inhabiting Arabia, who spread throughout the Middle East, N Africa, and Spain during the seventh and eighth centuries ad
2. a lively intelligent breed of horse, mainly used for riding
3. modifier of or relating to the Arabs

   the Arab nations

Sensitive Note

The meanings “street peddler” and “vagabond” (in this second sense, also called a street arab ) are sometimes perceived as insulting because of their reference to the historically nomadic peoples of Arabia. The meaning “vagabond” has fallen into disuse. However, street vendors in Baltimore, Maryland, are called Arabs; in fact, it is a self-referential term—that is, one used by the vendors themselves.

Pronunciation Note

The pronunciation of Arab as [ey, -rab], with an initial [ey] sound and secondary stress on the second syllable, is sometimes used facetiously or disparagingly. It is especially common in the street-peddler and street-arab senses and is usually considered offensive in any sense.

Other Words From

• anti-Arab adjective noun
• non-Arab noun adjective
• pro-Arab adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Arab¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin Arab-, stem of Arabs, from Greek Árab-, stem of Áraps “Arabian, an Arabian, Arab,” from Arabic ʿArab, a self-designation

Word History and Origins

Origin of Arab¹

C14: from Latin Arabs, from Greek Araps, from Arabic `Arab

Example Sentences

Azerbaijan followed on from another major oil producer, the United Arab Emirates, which held the conference in Dubai last year.

From BBC

He was also reported to support the Abraham Accords, Trump’s efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Arab states, which had some success.

From BBC

It says the Rapid Support Forces militia is using vehicles in the Darfur region supplied by the United Arab Emirates that are fitted with French hardware as it battles the army.

From BBC

Macron has been described as pursuing a zigzag in his approach to the Middle East, as in many other domains, flipflopping inconsistently between outspoken statements of support for Israel and then its Arab neighbours.

From BBC

For those Arab powerbrokers, Sudan is just one element in their geostrategic calculations, ranked below Israel-Palestine, Iran and relations with Washington.

From BBC