Definition

Noun: 1. A political and ideological movement: The Zionist movement refers to the organized international effort, originating in the late 19th century, which advocated for and successfully achieved the establishment of a Jewish national homeland and later a sovereign state in the historic region of Palestine.

Usage

• The term is used as a proper noun to refer to the specific historical phenomenon.
• It describes the collective activities, organizations, and ideologies that culminated in the creation of the State of Israel.

Examples

• The Zionist movement gained significant momentum following the publication of Theodor Herzl's .
• Scholars study the various factions within the broader Zionist movement, such as Labor Zionism and Revisionist Zionism.
• The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was a major diplomatic achievement for the Zionist movement.

Advanced Usage

• "World Zionist Organization": The primary institution founded to advance the goals of the movement.
• "Zionist Congress": The periodic assembly of delegates from the global movement.

Variants and Related Words

• Zionism (n): The ideology or doctrine underpinning the Zionist movement; the belief in the development and protection of a Jewish nation in Israel.
• Zionist (n): A supporter or member of the Zionist movement. (adj): Relating to Zionists or Zionism.

Synonyms

• Jewish national movement

Notes on Meaning

The term specifically denotes the organized movement from the late 19th century onward. It is distinct from the general, centuries-old religious and cultural longing for Zion (Jerusalem) in Jewish tradition, which is often called "Jewish messianism" or "the Return to Zion." The Zionist movement secularized and politicized this ancient aspiration.

Noun

1. a movement of world Jewry that arose late in the 19th century with the aim of creating a Jewish state in Palestine