Jewish

American  

[joo-ish] / ˈdʒu ɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Jews or Judaism.

   Jewish customs.

2. Informal. Yiddish.

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noun

1. Informal. Yiddish.

Jewish British  

/ ˈdʒuːɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Jews

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noun

1. a less common word for Yiddish

Other Word Forms

• Jewishly adverb
• Jewishness noun
• anti-Jewish adjective
• half-Jewish adjective
• non-Jewish adjective
• pre-Jewish adjective
• pro-Jewish adjective

Etymology

Origin of Jewish

1540–50; Jew + -ish ¹; compare Old English iudēisc < Late Latin iudē ( us ) Jew + Old English -isc -ish ¹

Compare meaning

How does jewish compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• goyish vs. Jewish

Example Sentences

"There's a Jewish playwright who survived the Holocaust called Elie Weisel," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Polling throughout the war with Iran has reflected a split between Israel's Jewish majority and Arab minority.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Under long‑standing arrangements, Jews may visit the compound -- which they revere as the site of the first and second Jewish temples -- but they are not permitted to pray there.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

These numbers reflect concerns over military conduct, human rights and U.S. foreign policy, not hatred toward Jewish people.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

I will be helping to get a group of Jewish children out of the country.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler