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.
"Here, Rose shares her Palestinian grandmother's delicious rice and lamb recipe. Her grandmother would make this as a family meal."
— Shandra Woworuntu, Taste of Freedom: Recipes for Resilience (2021)
"Prospects for a Palestinian state seem unclear amid various regional challenges, resistance from Israeli officials, and questions regarding U.S. policy in early 2025."
— , The Palestinians: Overview, Aid, and U.S. Policy Issues (2025)
"The exhibit featured Palestinian embroidery and pottery."
How to use Palestinian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to, or a person from, Palestine.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Palestinians
- Comparative
- more Palestinian
- Superlative
- most Palestinian
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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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