Jew

¹ American  

[joo] / dʒu /

noun

1. one of a scattered group of people that traces its descent from the Biblical Hebrews or from postexilic adherents of Judaism; Israelite.

2. a person whose religion is Judaism.

3. a subject of the ancient kingdom of Judah.

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adjective

1. Offensive. of Jews; Jewish.

verb (used with object)

1. Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. jew, to bargain sharply with; beat down in price (often followed bydown ).

Jew. ² American  

abbreviation

1. Jewish.

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Jew British  

/ dʒuː /

noun

1. a member of the Semitic people who claim descent from the ancient Hebrew people of Israel, are spread throughout the world, and are linked by cultural or religious ties

2. a person whose religion is Judaism

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Sensitive Note

While both the adjective and the verb were once used in a neutral way by Jews and non-Jews, they are now considered problematic and offensive. The adjectival use of Jew, as in the phrase Jew boy, is perceived as insulting; the adjective Jewish should be used instead. The verb jew (down) is also perceived as offensive and antisemitic, because it perpetuates the stereotype of the shrewd Jewish moneylender or haggler.

Other Word Forms

• non-Jew noun

Etymology

Origin of Jew

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English jewe, giu, gyu, ju, from Old French juiu, juieu, gyu, from Late Latin judēus, Latin jūdaeus, from Greek ioudaîos, from Aramaic yehūdāi, from Hebrew Yəhūdhī, derivative of Yəhūdhāh Judah; replacing Old English iūdēas “Jews,” from Late Latin jūdē(us) + Old English -as, a plural ending

Example Sentences

"When a Jew is in danger in the homeland, it is the homeland itself that is in danger," Macron said.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

"When one Jew is hurt, all Jews feel their pain," he said, adding he was there to "embrace and console the bereaved families".

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

The film boasts sensuous formal achievements, from the glorious alpine shots to the experimental sound design of a raging storm and the dizzying angles deployed by Kirsanoff, an Estonian Jew and Parisian avant-gardist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

I’m thinking, I’m a Jew who’s representing as a Jew.

From Slate • Dec. 19, 2025

In those days any Orthodox Jew who said he was a rabbi could preach and go around singing like a cantor and such.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride