shibboleth

[ shib-uh-lith, ‑-leth ]

noun

1. a peculiarity of pronunciation, behavior, mode of dress, etc., that distinguishes a particular class or set of persons.
2. a slogan; catchword.
3. a common saying or belief with little current meaning or truth.

shibboleth

/ ˈʃɪbəˌlɛθ /

noun

1. a belief, principle, or practice which is commonly adhered to but which is thought by some people to be inappropriate or out of date
2. a custom, phrase, or use of language that acts as a test of belonging to, or as a stumbling block to becoming a member of, a particular social class, profession, etc

shibboleth

1. In the Old Testament , shibboleth was a password used by the Israelites . It was chosen because their enemies could not pronounce it.

Notes

By extension, a shibboleth is an often-repeated slogan. It also means an arbitrary test to prove membership in a group.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shibboleth¹

From Hebrew shibbōleth literally, “freshet,” a word used by the Gileadites as a test to detect the fleeing Ephraimites, who could not pronounce the sound sh (Judges 12:4–6)

Word History and Origins

Origin of shibboleth¹

C14: from Hebrew, literally: ear of grain; the word is used in the Old Testament by the Gileadites as a test word for the Ephraimites, who could not pronounce the sound sh

Example Sentences

The anti-vaccine camp has seized on the threadbare shibboleths of “medical freedom” and “health freedom” — or “bodily autonomy,” as Vance put it.

From Los Angeles Times

In violation of virtually every shibboleth governing the conduct of samurai, her father assassinated a brutal lord for the sake of the realm.

From New York Times

The text bristles with shibboleths of the anti-tax movement, for example by blaming higher taxes on “unelected bureaucrats, empowered by politicians and the courts.”

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, they wield their attacks on Obamacare like shibboleths.

From Los Angeles Times

The “Barbenheimer” synergy demolished one of the release calendar’s most unfortunate shibboleths: namely, that the box office has room for only one smart popular hit in any given week.

From Los Angeles Times