Ishmael
Americannoun
-
(in the Bible) the son of Abraham and Hagar: both he and Hagar were cast out of Abraham's family by Sarah.
-
any outcast.
noun
-
the son of Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's handmaid: the ancestor of 12 Arabian tribes (Genesis 21:8–21; 25:12–18)
-
a bandit chieftain, who defied the Babylonian conquerors of Judah and assassinated the governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar (II Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 40:13–41:18)
-
rare an outcast
Etymology
Origin of Ishmael
From Hebrew Yishmāʿēl “God will hear”
Compare meaning
How does ishmael compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
That product made a “big splash,” said Ishmael Asad, a research analyst at Bitwise, in an interview.
From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026
That product made a “big splash,” said Ishmael Asad, a research analyst at Bitwise, in an interview.
From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026
In her “Moby Dick” opera Olga Neuwirth made Ishmael a woman; Wilson, instead, makes Captain Ahab a woman.
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
It’s unclear if and how the staffing changes will affect Teen Vogue’s coverage, but Ishmael and Williams both emphasized that layoffs affecting journalists of color, LGBTQ+ journalists and women journalists extend beyond one publication.
From Salon • Nov. 16, 2025
Ishmael Chambers put down the receiver and sat with his forehead held in his palm, remembering Carl Heine from high school.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
