What does "canaanite" mean?
A member of the ancient Semitic people who occupied Canaan before its conquest by Israelites.
Canaanite
/ˈkeɪnənaɪt/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A member of the ancient Semitic people who occupied Canaan before its conquest by Israelites.
- Grammar: canaanite is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: canaanite civilization, canaanite culture, canaanite inhabitant, canaanite language.
- Useful contrasts: non Canaanite, non Canaanite culture, non Canaanite language.
- Usage evidence: Abram passed through the country unto the place of Sichem, as far as the noble vale: now the Canaanite was at that time in the land.
How to use "canaanite"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "canaanite" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "canaanite" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "canaanite" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "canaanite civilization" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A member of the ancient Semitic people who occupied Canaan before its conquest by Israelites.
"Among the ancient Canaanites it was considered a divine honor to perform the sexual act."
- 2 the extinct language of the Semitic people who occupied Canaan before the Israelite conquest wordnet
- 3 A zealot or fanatic. broadly
- 4 a member of an ancient Semitic people who occupied Canaan before it was conquered by the Israelites wordnet
- 5 A member of the Canaanism movement.
Adjective
- 1 Of or pertaining to the people or language of Canaan.
"Unearthed in Lachish, a Canaanite city state in the second millennium BCE and the second most important city in the kingdom of Judah, the comb suggests that humans have endured lice for thousands of years and that even the wealthiest were not spared the grim infestations."
- 2 Of or pertaining to this sect or its followers; Canaanitic.
- 3 zealous or fanatical. broadly
Proper Noun
- 1 A subfamily of the Semitic languages, which were spoken by the ancient peoples of the Canaan region, including Canaanites, Israelites and Phoenicians.
"An affricated realization of *-z, as well as of voiceless *-s and emphatic *-ṣ-, is in any case reconstructed for Proto-Semitic, Northwest Semitic, and Canaanite, to which Phoenician belongs."
Synonyms
All synonyms canaanite civilizationcanaanite culturecanaanite inhabitantcanaanite languagecanaanite nativecanaanite person
Antonyms
Example
"Abram passed through the country unto the place of Sichem, as far as the noble vale: now the Canaanite was at that time in the land."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "canaanite"?
Common synonyms include: canaanite civilization, canaanite culture, canaanite inhabitant, canaanite language, canaanite native, canaanite person.
How do you use "canaanite" in a sentence?
Abram passed through the country unto the place of Sichem, as far as the noble vale: now the Canaanite was at that time in the land.
How do you pronounce "canaanite"?
Pronounced /ˈkeɪnənaɪt/.
Etymology
From Canaan + -ite.