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is a euphemism for “Jew,” meant to lend a scientific air to the racial grouping of all Jewish peoples based on an outdated pseudoscience of race.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

Antisemitism is a particularly sensitive issue in Europe given the Holocaust killed an estimated 6 million of the continent’s Jews.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign against Antisemitism, told the BBC "not enough is being done" to combat antisemitism.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Members of UCLA’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias, which in a 2024 report found “broad-based perceptions of antisemitic and anti-Israeli bias on campus,” did not sign.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten called the incident "terrible" on X and said "Antisemitism has no place in the Netherlands."

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

The Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said the decision followed "MSF's failure to submit lists of local employees, a requirement applicable to all humanitarian organisations operating in the region".

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026