: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Jews
also
: being a Jew
Jewishly
adverb
Jewishness
noun
Usage of Jew and Jewish
The noun Jew is commonly used by people who identify as such, often as a deeply meaningful designation. However, use of the term by those who are not Jewish in generalizations about Jewish people, and especially in generalizations about Jewish people that draw on stereotypes, is highly offensive. Adjectival use by those who are not Jewish is also commonly considered offensive; Jewish is used before nouns instead.
my Jewish neighbor
Cite this Entry
“Jewish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Jewish. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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