English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

Jericho

JEH-rih-koh

Jericho (noun) means an ancient city in the West Bank, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, famous from the Biblical story of its walls falling. Example: “Archaeologists have excavated layers of settlement at Jericho going back thousands of years.”

noun
1
An ancient city in the West Bank, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, famous from the Biblical story of its walls falling.
"Archaeologists have excavated layers of settlement at Jericho going back thousands of years."
2
Figuratively, a hidden or secluded place, from a Biblical reference to someone waiting there out of sight.
"He holed up in a Jericho of his own until the scandal blew over."

How to use Jericho

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA famous ancient city, or (rarely) a hideaway.

Word forms

Jerichos plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “Jericho” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Archaeologists have excavated layers of settlement at _____ going back thousands of years.

Etymology

From the ancient city's name, traced through Greek and Hebrew back to a Biblical Hebrew place-name.

Origin: Hebrew

Frequently asked questions

What does “Jericho” mean?

The word “Jericho” means an ancient city in the West Bank, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, famous from the Biblical story of its walls falling. In plain terms, a famous ancient city, or (rarely) a hideaway.

How do you pronounce “Jericho”?

“Jericho” is pronounced JEH-rih-koh (/ˈd͡ʒɛɹɪˌkoʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “Jericho” in a sentence?

Here is “Jericho” used in a sentence: “Archaeologists have excavated layers of settlement at Jericho going back thousands of years.”

What part of speech is “Jericho”?

“Jericho” is a noun.

Where does the word “Jericho” come from?

The word “Jericho” comes from Hebrew. From the ancient city's name, traced through Greek and Hebrew back to a Biblical Hebrew place-name.

Is “Jericho” a common word?

“Jericho” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Jericho” have?

“Jericho” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an ancient city in the West Bank, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, famous from the Biblical story of its walls falling.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial