Middle East

[ mid-l eest ]

noun

1. Also called Mideast. (loosely) the area from Libya east to Afghanistan, usually including Egypt, Sudan, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the other countries of Arabia.
2. (formerly) the area including Iran, Afghanistan, India, Tibet, and Myanmar (Burma).

Middle East

noun

1. (loosely) the area around the E Mediterranean, esp Israel and the Arab countries from Turkey to North Africa and eastwards to Iran
2. (formerly) the area extending from the Tigris and Euphrates to Myanmar

Middle East

1. Region in western Asia and northeast Africa that includes the nations on the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt (see also Egypt ), Iran , Iraq , Israel , Jordan , Lebanon , Syria , and Turkey .

Notes

As the site of such ancient civilizations as Phoenicia , Babylon (see also Babylon ), and Egypt, and the birthplace of Judaism , Christianity , and Islam , the Middle East is known as the cradle of Western civilization. The Greek Empire, Roman Empire , Persian Empire , and Ottoman Empire are among the great civilizations that developed and prospered in the Middle East.

A hotbed of religious and political strife ( see Arab-Israeli conflict and Persian Gulf War ), the Middle East attracted the attention of such powerful nations as Great Britain , the United States, and the Soviet Union eager to protect their strategic interests at the crossroads of Europe , Asia, and Africa, and their access to precious oil reserves.

Other Words From

• Middle Eastern adjective noun
• Middle Easterner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Middle East¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

While in government, my daily preoccupations were with blood-drenched rivalries in the Balkans, Caucasus, Africa, and Middle East.

From Time

Integrating Bahrain more fully into the economies of the broader Middle East is, therefore, a necessity that we expect will pay dividends for our future generations.

From Fortune

And, more broadly, regional politics in the greater Middle East have changed dramatically in recent years.

From Vox

They went on to become involved in activism around reproductive rights, Middle East peace, and environmental justice during their college years at North Carolina State University and the College of William and Mary.

From Washington Blade

After decades of being mainly focused on serving Middle East clients, the acquisition of DPO Group allows Network International boost its Africa operations.

From Quartz

According to Pew, 14 of the 20 countries in the Middle East and North Africa have blasphemy laws.

From The Daily Beast

Sales are best in Asia, London, the Middle East, and Russia.

From The Daily Beast

Many more illegal migrants face labor trafficking in Europe as they flee the conflict regions of North Africa and the Middle East.

From The Daily Beast

But still the Middle East conflict does cause tension between many in these two communities.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, that was a while ago, but in the Middle East, after all, 45 years is no time at all.

From The Daily Beast

You could not wish to purchase freedom in India at the price of enslavement in the middle East.

From Project Gutenberg

Jewish servicemen were barred from certain Middle East countries.

From Project Gutenberg

The field covered is thus virtually the entire Near and Middle East.

From Project Gutenberg

They want to kill Americans, kill democracy in the Middle East, and gain the weapons to kill on an even more horrific scale.

From Project Gutenberg

A free Iraq will show millions across the Middle East that a future of liberty is possible.

From Project Gutenberg