Zion

noun

Zi·​on ˈzī-ən How to pronounce Zion (audio)
variants or less commonly
ˈsī-ən How to pronounce Zion (audio)
Synonyms of Zionnext
1
a
: the Jewish people : israel
b
: the Jewish homeland that is symbolic of Judaism or of Jewish national aspiration
c
: the ideal nation or society envisaged by Judaism
2
: heaven
3
: utopia

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of Zion in a Sentence

found the path to Zion by doing penance for the wayward ways of her youth Robert Owen's New Harmony, Indiana, was but one of many attempts to establish an American Zion.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Sion, from Old English, citadel in Palestine which was the nucleus of Jerusalem, from Late Latin, from Greek Seiōn, from Hebrew Ṣīyōn

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of Zion was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near Zion

Zinziberaceae

Zion

Zioncheck

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Cite this Entry

“Zion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Zion. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Geographical Definition

Zion

geographical name

Zi·​on ˈzī-ən How to pronounce Zion (audio)
1
or Mount Zion or Sion
ˈsī-ən How to pronounce Zion (audio)
ˈzī-
 or Mount Sion hill in eastern Jerusalem, Israel

Note: Originally the stronghold of Jerusalem, Zion was conquered by David and in ancient times was the site of the Jewish Temple.

2
city in northeastern Illinois north of Waukegan population 24,413

More from Merriam-Webster on Zion

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Zion

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