# kibbutz

/kɪˈbʊts/ (US) · /kˈɪbʌts/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kibbutz
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a community in Israel where people share everything they own and work together. It started as a way for Jewish families to live and farm together in the early 20th century.

For teachers: a collective community in Israel, originally established by Jewish pioneers, characterized by shared ownership of land and resources and collective child-rearing. Often used to describe the historical socialist movement or the specific agricultural settlements.

## Examples

- The family spent their summer vacation at a kibbutz.
- Many early kibbutzim were founded in the 1930s to provide a self-sufficient, egalitarian lifestyle for Jewish immigrants.
- While the original kibbutz model emphasized absolute equality and communal living, many modern settlements have transitioned to a more privatized economy while maintaining their agricultural roots.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.