Arab

¹

[ar-uhb]

noun

1. a member of a Semitic people inhabiting Arabia and other countries of the Middle East.

2. a member of any Arabic-speaking people.

3. Arabian horse.

4. Also called Arabber. Sometimes Offensive.,  a street peddler.

5. Archaic: Sometimes Offensive.,  street arab.

adjective

1. of or relating to Arabs.

2. Arabian.

3. Arabic.

Arab.

²

abbreviation

1. Arabia.

2. Arabian.

3. Arabic.

Arab

noun

1. a member of a Semitic people originally inhabiting Arabia, who spread throughout the Middle East, N Africa, and Spain during the seventh and eighth centuries _ad

2. a lively intelligent breed of horse, mainly used for riding

3. (modifier) of or relating to the Arabs

   the Arab nations

Sensitive Note

The meanings “street peddler” and “vagabond” (in this second sense, also called a street arab ) are sometimes perceived as insulting because of their reference to the historically nomadic peoples of Arabia. The meaning “vagabond” has fallen into disuse. However, street vendors in Baltimore, Maryland, are called Arabs; in fact, it is a self-referential term—that is, one used by the vendors themselves.

Pronunciation Note

The pronunciation of Arab as , with an initial sound and secondary stress on the second syllable, is sometimes used facetiously or disparagingly. It is especially common in the street-peddler and street-arab senses and is usually considered offensive in any sense.

Other Word Forms

• anti-Arab adjective
• non-Arab noun
• pro-Arab adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Arab¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin Arab-, stem of Arabs, from Greek Árab-, stem of Áraps “Arabian, an Arabian, Arab,” from Arabic ʿArab, a self-designation

Word History and Origins

Origin of Arab¹

C14: from Latin Arabs, from Greek Araps, from Arabic `Arab

Example Sentences

Tabatabai focused quickly on shoring up Hezbollah’s forces in southern Lebanon and directed fighters to operate in small cells to better survive a future conflict with Israel, Arab officials said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This month, it completed the first point-to-point air taxi flight in the United Arab Emirates and announced plans for three new vertiports in the area.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Tabatabai, a key driver of recruitment of fighters for Hezbollah, has faced several previous attempts on his life, according to Arab officials.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It would advance a deal made two years ago, at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, where countries agreed on the need to "transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems".

Read more on BBC

Similar concerns scuttled the United Arab Emirates’ attempts to acquire the jet, he added.

Read more on Los Angeles Times