Israel
noun
Is·ra·el ˈiz-rē-əl 
-(ˌ)rā-
-(ˌ)rā- also ˈis-,
or ˈiz-rəl
1
: jacob sense 2
2
: the Jewish people
3
: a people chosen by God
Israel adjective
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek Israēl, from Hebrew Yiśrā'ēl
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing Israel
Geographical Definition
Israel
geographical name
Is·ra·el ˈiz-rē(-ə)l
-(ˌ)rā(-ə)l also ˈis- or ˈiz-rəl
1
kingdom in ancient Palestine comprising the lands occupied by the Hebrew people; established about 1025 b.c.; divided about 933 b.c. into a southern kingdom (Judah) and a northern kingdom (Israel)
2
or Northern Kingdom or Ephraim
ˈē-frē-əm
the northern portion of the Hebrew kingdom after the division; capital Samaria 3
country in southwestern Asia bordering on the Mediterranean Sea in the northwest, the Sinai Peninsula in the southwest, the Gulf of Aqaba at the southern tip, and the Dead Sea on the east; a republic established 1948; capital Jerusalem area 7993 square miles (20,782 square kilometers), population 7,412,200 see palestine see also israeli