diaspora

[dahy-as-per-uh, dee-]

noun

1. Usually Diaspora the scattering of the Jews to countries outside of ancient Palestine after the Babylonian captivity.

2. Often Diaspora

   1. the body of Jews living in countries outside Israel.

   2. such countries collectively.

      Passover is celebrated for seven days in Israel, but for eight days by Jews living in the Diaspora.

3. Often Diaspora any group that has been dispersed outside its traditional homeland, especially involuntarily, as Africans during the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

4. any group migration or flight from a country or region.

   Synonyms: scattering, displacement, migration, dissemination, dispersion
   Antonyms: return

5. any religious group living as a minority among people of the prevailing religion.

6. the spread or dissemination of something originally confined to a local, homogeneous group, as a language or cultural institution.

   the diaspora of English as a global language.

Diaspora

/ daɪˈæspərə /

noun

1. 1. the dispersion of the Jews after the Babylonian and Roman conquests of Palestine

   2. the Jewish communities outside Israel

   3. the Jews living outside Israel

   4. the extent of Jewish settlement outside Israel

2. (in the New Testament) the body of Christians living outside Palestine

3. (often not capital) a dispersion or spreading, as of people originally belonging to one nation or having a common culture

4. the descendants of Sub-Saharan African peoples living anywhere in the Western hemisphere

Other Word Forms

• diasporic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diaspora¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Greek diasporá “scattering, dispersion”; dia-, spore

Word History and Origins

Origin of diaspora¹

C19: from Greek: a scattering, from diaspeirein to disperse, from _dia- + speirein to scatter, sow; see _spore

Example Sentences

Beyond the Cuban diaspora, the genre known as reparto is overwhelmingly unknown.

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One of them was Maaya, a new cultural centre inspired by Africa and its diaspora.

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The fact that there’s a large diaspora of New Zealanders living around the world, engaged in various businesses, also helps.

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Meanwhile, in a message targeted as much at Madrid's domestic audience as its sub-Saharan partners, the foreign ministry said "supporting the African diaspora and the fight against racism and xenophobia are also key priorities".

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Draped in flags and wearing specially-made World Cup qualification T-shirts, the players' lap of honour was an emotional affair, even for those from the diaspora who grew up overseas.

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Related Words

• exodus