gentile: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Religious, Historical
Quick answer
What does “gentile” mean?
A person who is not Jewish.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who is not Jewish.
In Mormon usage, a person who is not a Latter-Day Saint. Historically, in the context of ancient Mediterranean cultures, a person who is not of the same people or nation; a foreigner or pagan.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or usage. Capitalisation (Gentile) is standard in both.
Connotations
Similar; primarily a religious/historical term. More likely to be encountered in areas with larger Jewish or Mormon communities.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse in both variants. Higher frequency in specific religious, historical, or sociological contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gentile” in a Sentence
[the] + Gentile + [community/world][a/Jewish] + and + [Gentile]Gentile + [convert/adherent]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gentile” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (no common verb use)
American English
- (no common verb use)
adverb
British English
- (no common adverb use)
American English
- (no common adverb use)
adjective
British English
- The gentile population of the city was curious about the Passover customs.
- They studied gentile philosophies of the Roman era.
American English
- The Gentile community was invited to the interfaith seder.
- He wrote about Gentile reactions to early Christianity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare, except perhaps in discussions of diversity in specific contexts.
Academic
Common in religious studies, theology, history (ancient, medieval), sociology of religion.
Everyday
Very rare; primarily used by members of religious communities where the distinction is relevant.
Technical
Specific term in biblical scholarship and religious discourse.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gentile”
- Using lower case 'g' in modern religious contexts.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'pagan' or 'irreligious person'.
- Mispronouncing the final syllable as /-tɪl/ instead of /-taɪl/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern usage relating to Jewish/non-Jewish distinction, it is standard to capitalise it as a proper noun/adjective (like Jew, Christian).
It is a standard, neutral descriptive term within religious and academic discourse. However, like any group label, tone and context matter. It is not inherently offensive.
It comes from Latin 'gentilis', meaning 'of a clan or nation', which in Late Latin biblical translation came to mean 'non-Jewish' or 'pagan'.
Not in its primary meaning. To a Jew, a Christian is a Gentile. The term is defined from the perspective of the in-group (Jewish or, in a different sense, Mormon).
A person who is not Jewish.
Gentile is usually formal, religious, historical in register.
Gentile: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdʒɛntaɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdʒɛnˌtaɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Jew among Gentiles”
- “To live as a Gentile”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'GENTLE' but with an 'i' – a gentile is not from the tribe of Israel.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE OUTSIDER / THE OTHER (in a specific religious in-group context).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Gentile' used specifically to mean 'non-Mormon'?