Bethlehem

American  

[beth-li-hem, -lee-uhm] / ˈbɛθ lɪˌhɛm, -li əm /

noun

1. a town in NW Jordan, near Jerusalem; occupied by Israel since 1967: birthplace of Jesus and David.

2. a city in E Pennsylvania.

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Bethlehem British  

/ ˈbɛθlɪˌhɛm, -lɪəm /

noun

1. a town in the West Bank, near Jerusalem: birthplace of Jesus and early home of King David

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Bethlehem Cultural  

1. The village near Jerusalem (see also Jerusalem) where Jesus was born. (See Nativity.)

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Example Sentences

Battalions are gathered on the banks of Portland, Ore.; Bethlehem; Charlotte, N.C.;

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

“My father was a steelworker at Bethlehem Steel. When he came out of high school, it was just about having a strong work ethic and a strong back,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Once home to Bethlehem Steel, which filed for bankruptcy in 2001, the region has continued to expand its manufacturing base, helped by its proximity to ports in New York and New Jersey.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

The construction of the pitch began here on the edge of Bethlehem in 2020, and today it provides a place to practise for more than 200 young players from the nearby Aida refugee camp.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

When demand for steel increased during World War I, streams of white workers moved into the nearby town of Dundalk, and Bethlehem Steel’s housing barracks for black workers quickly overflowed, pushing them into Turner Station.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot