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Ben-Gurion

American  
[ben-goor-ee-uhn, ben-goo-ryawn] / bɛnˈgʊər i ən, ˌbɛn gʊˈryɔn /

noun

  1. David, 1886–1973, Israeli statesman, born in Poland: prime minister of Israel 1948–53, 1955–63.


Ben-Gurion British  
/ bɛnˈɡʊərɪən /

noun

  1. David , original name David Gruen . 1886–1973, Israeli socialist statesman, born in Poland; first prime minister of Israel (1948–53, 1955–63)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

“There was no replacement for Enzo,” lamented David Ben-Gurion, the Zionist leader who would later serve as Israel’s first prime minister.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

Prof. Alon Monsonego of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that T helper lymphocytes, which are immune cells involved in regulating the body's defenses, shift in function as people grow older.

From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2025

But despite the moment of extraordinary tension, Truman immediately recognised the State of Israel when it was declared two days later by David Ben-Gurion, the country's first prime minister.

From BBC • May 5, 2025

That was the point at which a Qatari jet landed at Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport on Saturday.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 27, 2023

David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel, said that if Wingate had not died fighting the Japanese in 1944, he would surely have become the IDF’s first chief of staff.

From Salon • Oct. 28, 2023