kibbutz
Americannoun
-
kibbutzim
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of kibbutz
1930–35; < Modern Hebrew kibuṣ; compare Hebrew qibbūṣ gathering
Explanation
A kibbutz is a cooperative Israeli farming community. Kibbutzim provide about forty percent of Israel's agricultural output. The first kibbutz was formed in 1909, and back then farming was even more important than it is in today's kibbutzim (yes, this is the plural form of kibbutz). The original philosophy of kibbutzim was somewhat utopian, a belief in the creation of a perfect, equal society, and based in socialist ideals of shared ownership and a communal lifestyle. The word comes from the Modern Hebrew qibbus, "a gathering."
Vocabulary lists containing kibbutz
The Middle East and Central Asia - Introductory
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The Middle East and Central Asia - Middle School
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The Middle East and Central Asia - High School
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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:
Dalit pauses to show me a tree planted long ago by her parents, who were co-founders of the kibbutz, known for its farming and peace activists.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
At the Kfar Aza kibbutz, which was also devastated by the attack, mourners sat in silence in assembled chairs as they watched the raising of an Israeli flag.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
As the sky began to lighten over Israel's border with Gaza on Wednesday, the people of Kfar Aza moved silently towards the armoury at the centre of the kibbutz.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Work began on the outskirts of the kibbutz, and she says material for the new houses is being recycled from the old ones, a small way of ensuring continuity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
I can't figure out, according to the instructions, how much farther to the kibbutz.
From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper
That program led to the establishment of many kibbutzim, or agricultural communities, in Israel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 23, 2025
Before the war, kibbutzim residents tried to help Gazans, hiring them for jobs or and taking them for medical treatments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2025
Scores of Jews from around the world are visiting Israel to tour the grounds of the Nova music festival and burned out kibbutzim, bearing witness and reflecting on the Oct.
From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2024
Shortly afterwards, the kibbutzim of Nir Oz and Nir Yitzhak announced in separate statements that they had been informed of the recovery of Ms Goren and Sgt Goldin's bodies.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2024
All the time, in fact, in the meetings, special concerts, gatherings with other kibbutzim.
From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper
Definitions 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.
