Middle East

American  

[mid-l eest] / ˈmɪd l ˈist /

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).

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Middle East British  

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

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Middle East Cultural  

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.

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Discover More

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 Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Middle Easterner
  noun
• Middle Eastern
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Middle East

First recorded in 1875–80

Compare meaning

How does middle-east compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Near East vs. Middle East

Example Sentences

Some economists say the weakness could persist due to uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

As risky as that approach may be, it would represent a significant shift in how the Islamic Republic sees both its security and its place in the Middle East.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Investors were already concerned about extended valuations in the AI realm, which has been the main catalyst for a global market surge in the past two years, eclipsing worries about the Middle East crisis.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

The mixed performance comes as Israel and Iran exchanged volleys of fire, renewing tensions in the Middle East.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

People in Central America domesticated maize and beans without knowing anything about wheat and pea cultivation in the Middle East.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari