antisemitism

Or an·ti-Sem·i·tism

[an-tee-sem-i-tiz-uhm, an-tahy-]

noun

1. discrimination against or prejudice or hostility toward Jews.

Spelling Note

The closed and lowercase spelling antisemitism is now the preferred form. Jewish groups have long preferred the single word spelling, and many style guides, including those of major publications, have also adopted it. While Semitic is a current linguistic term for a subfamily of Afroasiatic languages including Akkadian, Arabic, Aramaic, Ethiopic, Hebrew, and Phoenician, the spelling anti-Semite falsely implies prejudice against all of the diverse groups of people who speak any of these languages. However, that is not how antisemite is used. Rather, the “Semite” in antisemitism is a euphemism for “Jew,” meant to lend a scientific air to the racial grouping of all Jewish peoples based on an outdated pseudoscience of race.

Word History and Origins

Origin of antisemitism¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

All of this has exacerbated the significant divisions over Israel and antisemitism that have roiled Hollywood since Oct.

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Mailman has been driving the White House efforts to crack down on schools over concerns about antisemitism and diversity initiatives.

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This is a burden necessitated by violent antisemitism.

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Elements of antisemitism and Islamist radicalism are present in the anti-Israel protests that have swept Western nations—with protesters in some cases carrying Hamas and Hezbollah flags and engaging in anti-Jewish chants.

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Imam Qari Asim, co-chairman of the British Muslim Network, said: "Whether it is Islamophobia, antisemitism or any form of bigotry, we must confront it together - with unity and courage, not silence."

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