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• Jew
  Jew

  noun

  one of a scattered group of people that traces its descent from the Biblical Hebrews or from postexilic adherents of Judaism; Israelite.
• Jew.
  Jew.

  abbreviation

  Jewish.

Jew

¹ American  

[joo] / dʒu /

noun

1. one of a scattered group of people that traces its descent from the Biblical Hebrews or from postexilic adherents of Judaism; Israelite.

2. a person whose religion is Judaism.

3. a subject of the ancient kingdom of Judah.

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adjective

1. Offensive. of Jews; Jewish.

verb (used with object)

1. Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. jew, to bargain sharply with; beat down in price (often followed bydown ).

Jew. ² American  

abbreviation

1. Jewish.

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Jew British  

/ dʒuː /

noun

1. a member of the Semitic people who claim descent from the ancient Hebrew people of Israel, are spread throughout the world, and are linked by cultural or religious ties

2. a person whose religion is Judaism

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Sensitive Note

While both the adjective and the verb were once used in a neutral way by Jews and non-Jews, they are now considered problematic and offensive. The adjectival use of Jew, as in the phrase Jew boy, is perceived as insulting; the adjective Jewish should be used instead. The verb jew (down) is also perceived as offensive and antisemitic, because it perpetuates the stereotype of the shrewd Jewish moneylender or haggler.

Other Word Forms

• non-Jew
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Jew

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English jewe, giu, gyu, ju, from Old French juiu, juieu, gyu, from Late Latin judēus, Latin jūdaeus, from Greek ioudaîos, from Aramaic yehūdāi, from Hebrew Yəhūdhī, derivative of Yəhūdhāh Judah; replacing Old English iūdēas “Jews,” from Late Latin jūdē(us) + Old English -as, a plural ending

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Jew Jew.

But despite what he has been through, the devout Jew said he refuses to feel sorry for himself.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

“We cannot ever be complacent,” Ms. Berg says, as she navigates the barriers outside her buildings, each bollard proof of how hard it is for a German Jew to live in peace.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

He described himself as "a proud British Jew" and outlined his steadfast support for the state of Israel.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Jew noted that social media has created a kind of zeitgeist around specific dishes.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

So I explained to Julia about my real mother, and how, technically, it made me a Jew.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith

“I am proud to be Jewish. I’m proud to live openly as a Jew. I am not afraid. I refuse to be afraid.”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 7, 2022

Speaking of his father in “The Facts,” an autobiography, Mr. Roth said: “His repertoire has never been large: family, family, family, Newark, Newark, Newark, Jew, Jew, Jew. Somewhat like mine.”

From New York Times ● May 23, 2018

“But that’s not all I am, any more than a Christian is just a Christian or a Jew or a Jew. I’m not mocking anything.”

From The Guardian ● Dec. 13, 2017

“Marlon, in case you’ve forgotten,” Elizabeth said, “I am also a Jew. Am I on a plane, Marlon? Am I on a plane?”

From The New Yorker ● Jun. 1, 2015

“Miss ten Boom, I am a Jew. Who knows when they will come to take me away? My wife too—although she is a Gentile—is in danger because of her marriage.”

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom