Philistines
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A “philistine” has come to mean a person who is ignorant and uncultured.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After crushing a Jewish revolt in the second century, Emperor Hadrian sought to sever the Jewish connection to the land by renaming the province “Syria Palaestina”—a name derived from the long-vanished Philistines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026
Meanwhile, the Israelites face threats from the rival army of Philistines and the menacing scavenger tribe of Amalekites.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
The impoverished Palestinian territory was an important trading post for civilisations as far back as the ancient Egyptians and the Philistines depicted in the Bible, through the Roman empire and the crusades.
From Reuters ● Jul. 24, 2023
These Super Glue subversives have been derided as publicity-seeking Philistines and hailed as martyrs for a vital cause.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 27, 2022
“You’ll have to excuse these Philistines, Colonel,” Zell spoke up.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
