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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

By contrast, the mythical figure of the Wandering Jew was condemned to roam the earth without rest until the second coming of Christ.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

Yet at the same time this weekend the ritual will feel different for every Jew in Britain.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

Tom, whose family fled Nazi Germany when he was a boy, is a thoroughly assimilated, tennis-obsessed Englishman who brings his own more conciliatory perspective to the discussion as a British Jew.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

Mr. Epstein’s distinction between Jew and Jew-ish brings to mind Moses at the burning bush, and his first question to God—Who am I to go to Pharaoh?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

In my heart I was still a Jew.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride