ENGLISH
REFERENCE

israelites

n. plural-only
C1 Advanced US //ˈɪzɹəˌɫaɪts// is·raelites

n. the group of people from the Bible who lived in ancient Israel. They are described as the ancestors of the Jewish people.

n. the ancient Hebrew people who inhabited the land of Canaan and established the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Refers specifically to the descendants of the biblical patriarch Jacob.


SIMPLE

The Israelites traveled through the desert for many years.

CONTEXTUAL

Historical texts describe how the Israelites established a kingdom in the Levant during the Iron Age.

COMPLEX

Archaeological evidence provides a nuanced perspective on the cultural and religious evolution of the Israelites within the broader context of ancient Near Eastern civilizations.

Synonyms
Usage

Always capitalized. Takes a plural verb and is typically used to refer to the group as a whole in a historical or biblical context.

© 2026 English Reference