Near East

American  

[neer eest] / ˈnɪər ˈist /

noun

1. an indefinite geographical or regional term, usually referring to the countries of southwestern Asia, including Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia and the other nations of Arabia.

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Near East British  

noun

1. another term for the Middle East

2. (formerly) the Balkan States and the area of the Ottoman Empire

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Near East Cultural  

1. A region in western Asia and northeastern Africa, often considered the same as the Middle East.

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Other Word Forms

• Near Eastern
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Near East

First recorded in 1855–60

Compare meaning

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

• Near East vs. Middle East

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Near East

Holly Dagres, an Iran specialist at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy think tank told the BBC that the use of children at security checkpoints "underscores the desperation of the Islamic Republic".

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026

“A significant portion of those missiles can reach their target,” said Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy think tank.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026

Writing for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy in October, Mladenov said that "sustained US engagement will be essential, alongside the willingness of European and regional partners to contribute both funds and troops."

From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026

“Battlefield damage assessment is an imprecise art, with initial estimates frequently being way off,” said Patrick Clawson, an expert on Iran and director for research at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2025

I wouldn't dream of leaving town without an ample supply of Dean & DeLuca's Near East blend and my espresso maker.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer