Semite

Se·mite
S1E1M3I1T1E1
UK/ˈsiː.maɪt/UK/ˈsɛm.aɪt/pin pen merger/ˈsɪm.aɪt/

noun

A member of a modern people that speak a Semitic language.

Similar
Semitic
OriginLate Latin Sēm ← Ancient Greek Σήμ ← Biblical Hebrew שם →
UncommonScrabble 8
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounSemite (plural Semites)

plural Semites · alternative Shemite

  1. A member of a modern people that speak a Semitic language.
  2. A member of any of a number of peoples of ancient southwestern Asia and East Africa such as the Akkadians, Assyrians, Arameans, Phoenicians, Canaanites, Hebrews, Arabs, or Aksumites.
  3. A descendant of any of these peoples.
  4. A descendant of the biblical Patriarch Shem.
  5. derogatorysometimesA Jew.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
Semitic

adjectiveof or relating to or characteristic of Semites

Similar
Semitic
Also see
semitic

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Biblical Hebrewשם
  2. Ancient GreekΣήμ
  3. Late LatinSēm
  4. EnglishSemite

From Sem, Shem + -ite, from Late Latin Sēm, from Ancient Greek Σήμ (Sḗm), from Biblical Hebrew שם (šēm). Compare German Semit, New Latin Sēmīta, French Sémite /sémite.

More words from Late Latin, Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic سَامِيّ, سَامِيَّة
  • سَامِيّ (sāmiyy)descendant of any of these peoples
  • سَامِيَّة (sāmiyya)descendant of any of these peoples
Catalan semita
  • semitadescendant of any of these peoples
Chinese Mandarin 閃米特人 /闪米特人
  • 閃米特人 /闪米特人 (Shǎnmǐtè-rén)descendant of any of these peoples
Czech Semita, Semita
  • Semitamember of any of a number of ancient peoples
  • Semitadescendant of any of these peoples
Dutch Semiet
  • Semietdescendant of any of these peoples
Esperanto semido, semido
  • semidomember of any of a number of ancient peoples
  • semidodescendant of any of these peoples
Finnish seemiläinen, seemiläinen
  • seemiläinenmember of any of a number of ancient peoples
  • seemiläinendescendant of any of these peoples
French Sémite, Sémite
  • Sémitemember of any of a number of ancient peoples
  • Sémitedescendant of any of these peoples
German Semit, Semitin
  • Semitdescendant of any of these peoples
  • Semitindescendant of any of these peoples
Hebrew שמי, שמית
  • שמי (shémi)descendant of any of these peoples
  • שמית (shémit)descendant of any of these peoples
Icelandic semíti, semíti
  • semítimember of any of a number of ancient peoples
  • semítidescendant of any of these peoples
Irish Seimíteach, Seimíteach
  • Seimíteachmember of any of a number of ancient peoples
  • Seimíteachdescendant of any of these peoples
Italian semita
  • semitadescendant of any of these peoples
Japanese セム, セム族の人
  • セム (Semu)descendant of any of these peoples
  • セム族の人 (Semu-zoku-no hito)descendant of any of these peoples
Latin Sēmīta
  • Sēmītadescendant of any of these peoples
Polish Semita, Semitka
  • Semitamember of any of a number of ancient peoples
  • Semitkamember of any of a number of ancient peoples
  • Semitadescendant of any of these peoples
  • Semitkadescendant of any of these peoples
Portuguese semita, semita
  • semitamember of any of a number of ancient peoples
  • semitadescendant of any of these peoples
Russian семи́т, семи́тка
  • семи́т (semít)descendant of any of these peoples
  • семи́тка (semítka)descendant of any of these peoples
Spanish semita
  • semitadescendant of any of these peoples
Turkish Sami
  • Samidescendant of any of these peoples
Ukrainian семі́т, семі́тка
  • семі́т (semít)descendant of any of these peoples
  • семі́тка (semítka)descendant of any of these peoples

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

EstimemesiteTimese
Cite this entry
APA

Semite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Semite

MLA

“Semite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Semite. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Semite,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Semite.

Source: Semite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.