Ishmael

American  

[ish-mee-uhl, -mey-] / ˈɪʃ mi əl, -meɪ- /

noun

1. (in the Bible) the son of Abraham and Hagar: both he and Hagar were cast out of Abraham's family by Sarah.

2. any outcast.

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Ishmael British  

/ ˈɪʃmeɪəl /

noun

1. the son of Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's handmaid: the ancestor of 12 Arabian tribes (Genesis 21:8–21; 25:12–18)

2. a bandit chieftain, who defied the Babylonian conquerors of Judah and assassinated the governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar (II Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 40:13–41:18)

3. rare an outcast

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Etymology

Origin of Ishmael

From Hebrew Yishmāʿēl “God will hear”

Compare meaning

How does ishmael compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Ishmael vs. Isaac

Example Sentences

Like Guo’s version of Ishmael, Ahab, and the “cannibal” Queequeg, all who keep beautifully to the spirit of Melville’s characters, Guo’s inclusion of a Chinese sage to the story is another fascinating innovation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2026

Ishmael started as an editorial assistant and worked her way up to an associate editor position before being promoted to the publication’s style editor this October, just weeks before she was laid off.

From Salon • Nov. 16, 2025

That statement from British light-middleweight Ishmael Davis might appear blunt at face value, but his harsh view on life was developed through some difficult formative years.

From BBC • Nov. 8, 2025

An early one involves the choreographer Ishmael Houston-Jones, whose work “Relatives” Mullins lit in 1982.

From New York Times • May 6, 2024

Just after midnight Ishmael took his leave, shaking hands with Hisao and thanking him for the tea and asking him to thank Fujiko, too.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson