antisemitism

American  

[an-tee-sem-i-tiz-uhm, an-tahy-] / ˌæn tiˈsɛm ɪˌtɪz əm, ˌæn taɪ- /

Or anti-Semitism

noun

1. discrimination against or prejudice or hostility toward Jews.

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Spelling

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is a euphemism for “Jew,” meant to lend a scientific air to the racial grouping of all Jewish peoples based on an outdated pseudoscience of race.

Etymology

Origin of antisemitism

First recorded in 1880–85

Explanation

Antisemitism is prejudice against and hatred for Jewish people. Discriminating against Jews is an example of antisemitism. The Jews are also known as Semitic people, and the culture and qualities of Jews are known as Semitism. Place the prefix anti- (meaning "against") in front of semitism, and you get a noun describing actions taken against Jews. Antisemitism is an ugly thing, similar to racism or sexism. Unfortunately, antisemitism has been one of the strongest forms of hatred in the history of the world, as seen in events like the Holocaust, in which Nazi Germany killed six millions Jews.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

antisemitism

Chancellor Friedrich Merz marked the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel by vowing to fight antisemitism in Germany while pressing for a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

The party leader, who is Jewish, added that "antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state are, and must always be, completely distinct".

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Michael Kotlikoff had spent his presidency navigating federal-funding disruptions and antisemitism controversies—until a campus sexual-assault furor erupted.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Frenk, who arrived in January 2025, has made combating antisemitism a centerpiece of his leadership, calling it in his court statement “a moral imperative.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

But if antisemitism contributed to William’s breakdowns, there was another factor at work, too.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield