Haganah

American  

[hah-gah-nah] / hɑ gɑˈnɑ /

noun

1. the underground Jewish militia in Palestine (1920–48) that became the national army of Israel after the partition of Palestine in 1948.

---

Etymology

Origin of Haganah

< Modern Hebrew hagana literally, defense, Hebrew həgannāh

Example Sentences

Senesh connected with the Haganah, the Jewish paramilitary organization that had been formed to protect Jews in the British Mandate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

“What happened in Galilee—those are Nazi acts!” read a 1948 report about a briefing given by Israel Galili, the former Haganah chief.

From Slate • May 15, 2024

There he joined the Haganah, the paramilitary organisation fighting the British to set up the state of Israel.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2024

A year before Israel's independence, Peres joined the high command of Haganah, the underground Jewish fighting force that was the precursor to the Israeli army, and became head of its manpower and weapons procurement divisions.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2016

One of the Haganah operatives managed to get several crates of oranges at the French port.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper