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Levantine

American

[lev-uhn-tahyn, -teen, li-van-tin, -tahyn] / ˈlɛv ənˌtaɪn, -ˌtin, lɪˈvæn tɪn, -taɪn /

adjective

of or relating to the Levant.

noun

Sometimes Offensive. a native of the Levant.

levantine British

/ ˈlɛvənˌtaɪn /

noun

a cloth of twilled silk

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Sensitive Note

The use of the word Levantine as a noun, as in the head of HR is a Levantine or Levantines are a key demographic, may sometimes be offensive when not used in self-reference.

Other Word Forms

Levantinism noun

Etymology

Origin of Levantine

First recorded in 1640–50; Levant + -ine ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Certainly not when he serves his take on sfeeha, a traditional Levantine meat pie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

Make your next weekend brunch memorable with these picks from the 101 Best Restaurants guide, including a Levantine option in Long Beach, soul food in Mid-City, modern Mexican in the Arts District and more.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2024

Growing up in northern England, Hankir found it challenging to fit in as a young Muslim girl with Levantine and Egyptian heritage.

From Salon • Dec. 30, 2023

Gezer is an ancient southern Levantine city, well known from Egyptian, Assyrian, and Biblical texts and associated with stories of power struggles and significant historical figures.

From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2023

I was a sucker for the soft-handed Levantine affections.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023