shibboleth

[shib-uh-lith, ‑-leth]

noun

1. a peculiarity of pronunciation, behavior, mode of dress, etc., that distinguishes a particular class or set of persons.

2. a slogan; catchword.

3. a common saying or belief with little current meaning or truth.

shibboleth

/ ˈʃɪbəˌlɛθ /

noun

1. a belief, principle, or practice which is commonly adhered to but which is thought by some people to be inappropriate or out of date

2. a custom, phrase, or use of language that acts as a test of belonging to, or as a stumbling block to becoming a member of, a particular social class, profession, etc

shibboleth

1. In the Old Testament, shibboleth was a password used by the Israelites. It was chosen because their enemies could not pronounce it.

By extension, a shibboleth is an often-repeated slogan. It also means an arbitrary test to prove membership in a group.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shibboleth¹

From Hebrew shibbōleth literally, “freshet,” a word used by the Gileadites as a test to detect the fleeing Ephraimites, who could not pronounce the sound sh (Judges 12:4–6)

Word History and Origins

Origin of shibboleth¹

C14: from Hebrew, literally: ear of grain; the word is used in the Old Testament by the Gileadites as a test word for the Ephraimites, who could not pronounce the sound sh

Example Sentences

Of course conservatives complained about all this constantly and at great length, and sporadically tried to organize boycotts or other counterattacks against such shibboleths as “affirmative action,” “political correctness,” “multiculturalism” and “cultural Marxism.”

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California Latinos have helped to torpedo liberal shibboleths at the ballot box more often than Democrats will ever admit.

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This is the shibboleth that no fault must ever attach to the electorate.

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Some institutions under Trumpian fire agree to end programs promoting workforce, student and faculty diversity, equality and inclusion, or “DEI,” to cite the common conservative shibboleth, or to eliminate other forms of outreach.

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These are ideological shibboleths and by no means “wasteful,” since DOT projects have manifest effects on the welfare of residents in the communities where they’re built or planned and on climate change itself.

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