Bedouin

American  

[bed-oo-in, bed-win] / ˈbɛd u ɪn, ˈbɛd wɪn /

Or Beduin

noun

plural

Bedouins,

plural

Bedouin

1. an Arab of the desert, in Asia or Africa; nomadic Arab.

2. a nomad; wanderer.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Bedouin.

Bedouin British  

/ ˈbɛdʊɪn /

noun

1. a member of any of the nomadic tribes of Arabs inhabiting the deserts of Arabia, Jordan, and Syria, as well as parts of the Sahara

2. a wanderer or rover

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Bedouins

2. wandering or roving

Other Word Forms

• Bedouinism noun

Etymology

Origin of Bedouin

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English Bedoynes (plural), from Old French beduyn (singular), from Arabic badawīn “desert-dwellers,” plural of badawī, equivalent to badw “desert” + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin; in the Western languages, the Arabic plural form -īn was interpreted to be part of the basic form

Example Sentences

Back in al-Mughayyir, settlers have already pushed Bedouin shepherds off their land nearby.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

Furthermore, "it will displace more than 24 Palestinian Bedouin communities, all of which rely on livestock", he added, and therefore land for grazing.

From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025

The dispute broke out early in the morning in the village of Kheshan between members of a Bedouin tribe, the official said, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media.

From Barron's • Nov. 15, 2025

However, the government says it is also "upgrading" Bedouin residential areas.

From BBC • Sep. 6, 2025

“What have we got? A Viking berserker, a Rogue Legion, a Persian mystic, a Bedouin clan, and a Chinese ablutionist. I know! We can hide in a cave or something.”

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri