Arab

¹ American  

[ar-uhb] / ˈær əb /

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 American  

abbreviation

1. Arabia.

2. Arabian.

3. Arabic.

---

Arab British  

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

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

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

He subsequently managed teams in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico and was in charge of Argentinian club Gimnasia y Esgrima at the time of his death.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Polling throughout the war with Iran has reflected a split between Israel's Jewish majority and Arab minority.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are turning to South Korean missile-defense systems, Ukrainian drones that smash into targets midair and traditional American Gatling guns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Abundant natural gas in the United Arab Emirates fueled EGA’s rise as a leading aluminum producer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

In 1696, this rebellion came to full flower when an Arab force sailed into an African harbor at Mombasa and laid siege to the vital Portuguese fort at Fort Jesus.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler