Babylon

[ bab-uh-luhn, -lon ]

noun

1. an ancient city of SW Asia, on the Euphrates River, famed for its magnificence and culture: capital of Babylonia and later of the Chaldean empire.
2. any rich and magnificent city believed to be a place of excessive luxury and wickedness.
3. a city on S Long Island, in SE New York.

Babylon

/ ˈbæbɪlən /

noun

1. the chief city of ancient Mesopotamia: first settled around 3000 bc See also Hanging Gardens of Babylon
2. offensive.
   (in Protestant polemic) the Roman Catholic Church, regarded as the seat of luxury and corruption
3. derogatory.
   any society or group in a society considered as corrupt or as a place of exile by another society or group, esp White Britain as viewed by some West Indians

Babylon

¹

1. The capital of the ancient empire of Babylonia, which conquered Israel in the sixth century b.c. The Jews (see also Jews ) were exiled to Babylon, which they found luxurious and corrupt. The prophet Daniel became a counselor to the king of Babylon ( see the handwriting on the wall ), and eventually the Israelites were allowed to return to their homeland. ( See also Daniel in the lions' den .)

Babylon

²

1. A city in ancient Mesopotamia , famed for its hanging gardens (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World ) and for the sensual lifestyle of its people.

Notes

A “Babylon” is any place of sin and corruption.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Babylon¹

via Latin and Greek from Hebrew Bābhél ; see Babel

Example Sentences

Iraq’s Security Media Cell said the country’s air defense command had not detected any drones or fighter plane in the airspace of Babylon before or during the explosion.

From Seattle Times

It was unclear who carried out the attack in Iraq’s Babylon province, south of Baghdad.

From New York Times

Many of his followers see him as anointed by God like the biblical King Cyrus who freed oppressed Jews in Babylon.

From Los Angeles Times

Other winners included poet Safiya Sinclair, who took the autobiography prize for her acclaimed memoir “How to Say Babylon,” about her Jamaican childhood and strict Rastafarian upbringing.

From Seattle Times

This was at a soft opening of the Babylon LA store in Hollywood.

From Los Angeles Times