noun

antisemitism

an-tee-SEM-uh-tiz-uhm

Antisemitism (noun) means Hostility, prejudice or discrimination directed at Jewish people, whether as individuals, as a community or through conspiracy theories about Jewish power. Example: “The report recorded a sharp rise in antisemitism on campus over the past year.”

noun

Hostility, prejudice or discrimination directed at Jewish people, whether as individuals, as a community or through conspiracy theories about Jewish power.

"The report recorded a sharp rise in antisemitism on campus over the past year."

"Denying the Holocaust is a form of antisemitism, not historical debate."

How to use antisemitism

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHatred of or prejudice against Jewish people.

When to use it

Neutral in register but grave in subject. The unhyphenated spelling is now the recommended standard.

Memory tip

The adjective is antisemitic, and it describes acts, words and ideas as well as people.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

antisemitism / anti-Zionism antisemitism / Islamophobia

Common pairings

rise in antisemitism combat antisemitism antisemitic tropes institutional antisemitism

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The report recorded a sharp rise in _____ on campus over the past year.

Etymology

A calque of German Antisemitismus, coined in the nineteenth century from anti- 'against' + Semitism; despite its form, it has only ever meant hostility towards Jews.

Origin: German

Synonyms

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Jew-hatred anti-Jewish prejudice

Frequently asked questions

Should it be written antisemitism or anti-Semitism?

Most major Jewish organisations, scholars and style guides now prefer the unhyphenated antisemitism with a lower-case s. The hyphenated form implies there is a thing called Semitism that the prejudice opposes, which there is not — the word has always meant hostility to Jews specifically.

Does antisemitism include prejudice against Arabs?

No, despite Arabic being a Semitic language. The word was created in nineteenth-century Europe to mean hostility towards Jews and has never meant anything else in practice. Prejudice against Arabs is called anti-Arab racism.

What is the difference between antisemitism and anti-Zionism?

Anti-Zionism is opposition to the Zionist political project or to the policies of the Israeli state; antisemitism is prejudice against Jews as Jews. The two are distinct in principle, though they can overlap when criticism relies on antisemitic tropes or holds Jews collectively responsible for a government's actions.

What is the meaning of antisemitism?

"antisemitism" (noun) means hostility, prejudice or discrimination directed at Jewish people, whether as individuals, as a community or through conspiracy theories about Jewish power.