Arab
noun
a member of a Semitic people inhabiting Arabia and other countries of the Middle East.
Arab
1 American
[ar-uhb]
/ ˈær əb /
noun
-
Arabs
plural
-
a member of a Semitic people inhabiting Arabia and other countries of the Middle East.
-
a member of any Arabic-speaking people.
-
Also called Arabber. Sometimes Offensive. a street peddler.
-
Archaic: Sometimes Offensive. street arab.
Arab.
2
American
abbreviation
-
Arabia.
-
Arabian.
-
Arabic.
Arab
British
noun
-
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
-
a lively intelligent breed of horse, mainly used for riding
-
(modifier) of or relating to the Arabs
the Arab nations
Sensitivity
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
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of Arab
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
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.
See Examples For:
This includes the Arab Group and Like-Minded Developing Countries, these sources said -- two negotiating blocs of emerging economies including Saudi Arabia and India.
From Barron's ● Nov. 15, 2026
The 26 other members of parliament, from Arab and ultra-Orthodox parties, could abstain, allowing the government to be approved without an absolute majority in the Knesset, which has 120 seats.
From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2026
In a wider sense, the crisis was the result of many long-running trends beyond Faisal’s bigotry and the Arab nations’ rage at Israel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026
Somewhere behind me, an older woman let out a zaghrouta, the ululation you hear at Arab weddings.
From Slate ● Nov. 13, 2026
The Arab sheiks prize falcons,” the librarian continues.
From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
“Today I feel Qatari. I feel Arab. I feel African. I feel gay. I feel disabled. I feel a migrant worker.”
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 19, 2022
“Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel a migrant worker.”
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 19, 2022
“All of our river water got destroyed. Go to Shatt al Arab. There's no fish there.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2018
They see me and think, ‘You’re tan. You’re Jewish. You’re Greek. You’re Arab. You’re a mad scientist . . .’ In the beginning I played a cab driver but I never played a terrorist.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2017
Arab. al wazir, the vizier, governor, deputy, or minister.
From The Bible in Spain - Vol. 2 [of 2] by George Henry Borrow
Eisenkot, a former chief of Israel’s military, considered inviting the Arabs, but seemed to have decided against it as well.
From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026
Israeli Arabs are forecast to secure around 19 seats in the 120-member Knesset, a major gain driven by communities such as Majd al-Krum, where 85 percent of eligible voters turned out.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
Voters turning out in record numbers, Jews and Arabs alike.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
There were indications that Israeli Arabs, who make up around one-fifth of the total population and about 17% of eligible voters, were voting in historically large numbers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
“Afghanistan has been invaded so many times. By the Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, British, and then the Soviets...”
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
