Israelite
[
iz
-ree-
uh
-lahyt, -rey-]
/ˈɪz ri əˌlaɪt, -reɪ-/
noun
1.
a descendant of Jacob, especially a member of the Hebrew people who inhabited the ancient kingdom of
Israel
.
2.
one of a group considered by its members or by others as God's chosen people.
adjective
3.
of or pertaining to ancient
Israel
or its people; Hebrew.
Origin
1350-1400;
Middle English;
see
Israel
,
-ite
1
Related forms
non-Israelite,
noun
pre-Israelite,
adjective,
noun
British Dictionary definitions for
Israelite
Israelite
/
ˈɪzrɪəˌlaɪt;
-rə-
/
noun
1.
(
Bible
) a member of the ethnic group claiming descent from Jacob; a Hebrew
2.
(
Bible
) a citizen of the kingdom of Israel (922 to 721
bc
) as opposed to Judah
3.
a member of any of various Christian sects who regard themselves as God's chosen people
4.
an archaic and sometimes offensive word for a
Jew
Word Origin and History for
Israelite
n.
late 14c., from Latin
israelita
, from Greek
Israelites
, from
Israel
(see
Israel
).