Word of the day · 23 May 2026
zionism
/ˈzaɪənɪzəm/
noun
A movement for Jewish national self-determination and the development of a Jewish homeland in the historic Land of Israel; in modern use, also support for the State of Israel as that homeland.
In a sentence
- Early Zionism argued for a Jewish national home after waves of persecution.
- The lecture explained Zionism as a form of modern nationalism.
- Students compared different strands within Zionism rather than one single program.
In an image
Origin
From Zion, a biblical name for Jerusalem and the land of Israel, plus -ism; the modern political movement took shape in the late 19th century.
History
Political Zionism organized under figures such as Theodor Herzl amid European antisemitism and competing nationalisms. After 1948 the word also covers support for Israel’s existence and character, while critics and supporters debate its meaning in current politics. People search it because news uses the label as if everyone already agrees. A clear definition separates the historical movement from later slogans.
Nearby words
nationalism · homeland · self-determination
The national movement tied to a Jewish homeland in Israel.