zionism
n. uncountablen. the movement to create and support a Jewish state in the land of Israel. It started in the late 1800s and led to the founding of modern Israel in 1948.
n. a political movement originally for the re-establishment and now the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel. Historically emerged in the late 19th century as a response to European antisemitism.
Zionism played a major role in the creation of the state of Israel.
The history of the Middle East in the 20th century is deeply connected to the rise of Zionism.
Scholars often distinguish between the various cultural, religious, and political branches of Zionism that emerged during the movement's formative years in Europe.
From Zion + -ism, calqued in analogy to German Zionismus, coined by Nathan Birnbaum in 1890.
Usually capitalised in formal writing, though lowercase is sometimes seen in general contexts.