Israel

UK: /ˈɪzreɪ^əl/ US: (iz′rē əl, -rā-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

Is•ra•el  (iz′rē əl, -rā-), n. 

1. Place Names a republic in SW Asia, on the Mediterranean: formed as a Jewish state May 1948. 5,534,672;
   7984 sq. mi. (20,679 sq. km). Cap.: Jerusalem.
2. Language Varieties the people traditionally descended from Jacob;
   the Hebrew or Jewish people.
3. Bible a name given to Jacob after he had wrestled with the angel. Gen. 32:28.
4. Bible the northern kingdom of the Hebrews, including 10 of the 12 tribes, sometimes called by the name of the chief tribe, Ephraim. Cap.: Samaria.
5. a group considered by its members or by others as God's chosen people.
6. a male given name.

• Hebrew Yisrā'ēl literally, God perseveres
• Greek Isrāé̄l
• Latin Isrāēl
• Middle English, Old English bef. 1000

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Israel / ˈɪzreɪəl -rɪəl/ noun

1. a republic in SW Asia, on the Mediterranean Sea: established in 1948, in the former British mandate of Palestine, as a primarily Jewish state; disputes with Arab neighbours (who did not recognize the state of Israel) erupted into full-scale wars in 1948, 1956, 1967 (the Six Day War), and 1973 (the Yom Kippur War). In 1993 Israel agreed to grant autonomous status to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, according to the terms of a peace agreement with the PLO. Official language: Hebrew. Religion: Jewish majority, Muslim minority. Currency: shekel. Capital: Jerusalem (much international recognition withheld as East Jerusalem was annexed (1967) by Israel: UN recognized capital: Tel Aviv). Pop: 8 321 570 (2017 est). Area (including Golan Heights and East Jerusalem): 22 072 sq km (8522 sq miles)
2. the ancient kingdom of the 12 Hebrew tribes at the SE end of the Mediterranean
3. the kingdom in the N part of this region formed by the ten northern tribes of Israel in the 10th century bc and destroyed by the Assyrians in 721 bc
4. the Jewish community throughout the world