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noun Common

Palestinian

pal-uh-STIHN-ee-uhn

Palestinian (noun) means a person from Palestine or of Palestinian descent. Example: “Many Palestinians have family scattered across several countries.”

noun
1
A person from Palestine or of Palestinian descent.
"Many Palestinians have family scattered across several countries."
adjective
1
Relating to Palestine, its people, or their culture.
"The exhibit featured Palestinian embroidery and pottery."

How to use Palestinian

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRelating to, or a person from, Palestine.

Word forms

more Palestinian comparative, Palestinians plural, most Palestinian superlative

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Test yourself on “Palestinian” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Can you complete this real example?

Many _____ have family scattered across several countries.

Etymology

From Palestine plus the suffix -ian, following the same pattern as other nationality words.

Rhymes for Palestinian

See all rhymes for Palestinian →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Palestinian” mean?

The word “Palestinian” means a person from Palestine or of Palestinian descent. In plain terms, relating to, or a person from, Palestine.

How do you pronounce “Palestinian”?

“Palestinian” is pronounced pal-uh-STIHN-ee-uhn (/pæl.əˈstɪn.i.ən/ in IPA).

How do you use “Palestinian” in a sentence?

Here is “Palestinian” used in a sentence: “Many Palestinians have family scattered across several countries.”

What part of speech is “Palestinian”?

Depending on how it is used, “Palestinian” can be a noun and an adjective.

Is “Palestinian” a common word?

“Palestinian” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Palestinian” have?

“Palestinian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person from Palestine or of Palestinian descent.

Is "Palestinian" always capitalized?

Yes. "Palestinian" is a proper adjective and noun formed from the place name Palestine, so it is always written with a capital P, whether it names a person or describes something relating to Palestine.

What is the difference between "Palestine" and "Palestinian"?

"Palestine" is the name of the region or territory, while "Palestinian" is the adjective ("Palestinian culture") or the word for a person from there ("a Palestinian"). In short, Palestine is the place, and Palestinian describes its people or things connected to it.

Can "Palestinian" be used as both a noun and an adjective?

Yes. As a noun it names a person from Palestine or of Palestinian descent ("she is a Palestinian"), and as an adjective it describes something relating to Palestine, its people, or their culture ("Palestinian cuisine").

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