Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Of or relating to the State of Israel: Describes anything originating from, associated with, or characteristic of the modern country of Israel.
   • Of or relating to the people of Israel: Describes the cultural, national, or ethnic identity of the citizens or people of Israel.

2. Noun:

   • A native or inhabitant of Israel: A person who was born in or is a citizen of the State of Israel.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The Israeli government announced a new policy. (The government of Israel announced a new policy.)
  • She is a prominent Israeli scientist. (She is a prominent scientist who is from Israel.)

• Noun:

  • The guide was an Israeli who spoke excellent English. (The guide was a citizen of Israel who spoke excellent English.)
  • Israelis and Palestinians are negotiating. (Citizens of Israel and Palestinians are negotiating.)

Advanced Usage

• "Israeli-Arab": A term sometimes used to refer to Arab citizens of Israel.

  • He is an Israeli-Arab politician. (He is a politician who is an Arab citizen of Israel.)

• "Israeli-born": Born in Israel.

  • The artist is Israeli-born but now lives in New York. (The artist was born in Israel but now lives in New York.)

Variants and Related Words

• Israel (n): The country in the Middle East.

  • Tel Aviv is a major city in Israel. (Tel Aviv is a major city in the country of Israel.)

• Israelite (n): A member of the ancient nation of Israel; a historical/archaic term, distinct from the modern "Israeli."

  • The Israelites crossed the desert. (The ancient people crossed the desert.)

Synonyms

• Adjective: Of Israel.
• Noun: Citizen of Israel.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "Israeli" specifically refers to the modern nation-state of Israel, established in 1948. It is a national identifier.
• It is distinct from "Jew" (a religious or ethnic identity) and "Hebrew" (a language or ancient people). Not all Israelis are Jewish, and not all Jews are Israelis.
• The reference from the English-Vietnamese dictionary equating "Israeli" with "Do thái" (Jew) is an oversimplification and can be inaccurate, as it conflates nationality with religion/ethnicity.

Adjective

1. of or relating to or characteristic of Israel or its people

Noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Israel