Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person who is not Jewish: In Jewish contexts, a "gentile" refers to someone who is not a member of the Jewish faith or people.
   • A Christian: In some Christian contexts, particularly historically, "gentile" can refer to a Christian, especially one who is not of Jewish descent.
   • A person who is not a member of a particular religious group: Used by some religious groups (e.g., Mormons, Hindus) to refer to outsiders or those not belonging to their faith.
   • A person who does not acknowledge a specific god: A non-believer in the context of a particular religion.

2. Adjective:

   • Belonging to or characteristic of non-Jewish peoples: Describing something related to or typical of people who are not Jewish.
   • Not Jewish: Used to describe individuals, cultures, or practices outside of Judaism.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • In the story, the prophet was sent to preach to the gentiles. (Here, "gentiles" means people who are not Jewish.)
  • Some early Christian texts discuss the inclusion of gentiles into the church. (Here, "gentiles" refers to non-Jewish converts to Christianity.)
  • To a devout member of that sect, anyone outside the community is considered a gentile. (Here, "gentile" means an outsider to that specific religion.)

• Adjective:

  • They lived in a predominantly gentile neighborhood. (This describes a neighborhood where most people are not Jewish.)
  • The festival has both Jewish and gentile origins. (This describes origins that are not Jewish.)

Advanced Usage

• Theological/Historical Context: The term is deeply rooted in religious history, marking a distinction between Jews and other nations or faiths. Its connotations depend entirely on the speaker's religious frame of reference.
• Capitalization: Often capitalized ("Gentile") when used as a noun, especially in formal religious writing, to denote the specific group.

Variants and Related Words

• Gentilehood / Gentility (noun, archaic): The state or quality of being a gentile. (Note: "Gentility" more commonly refers to polite or refined manners.)
• Gentilism (noun, rare): The state or beliefs of gentiles.

Synonyms

• Non-Jew: The most direct synonym in a Jewish context.
• Pagan / Heathen (historical/pejorative): These are often more specific or carry negative connotations, referring to polytheists or non-believers in the God of Abraham.
• Outsider / Foreigner: In the broader sense of not belonging to a specific group.

Related Phrases

• Gentile nations: A biblical phrase referring to all nations other than Israel.
• Apostle to the Gentiles: A title for Saint Paul, reflecting his mission to preach Christianity to non-Jews.

Notes on Usage

• The term is primarily religious and can be sensitive. In modern secular contexts, more neutral terms like "non-Jewish" are often preferred.
• Its meaning shifts based on the religious perspective of the user (Jewish, Christian, Latter-day Saint, etc.). Always consider the context.

Adjective

1. belonging to or characteristic of non-Jewish peoples

Noun

1. a Christian
   • Christians refer to themselves as gentiles
2. a Christian as contrasted with a Jew
3. a person who is not a member of one's own religion; used in this sense by Mormons and Hindus
4. a person who does not acknowledge your god