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shibboletha custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈʃɪbəˌleθ/

Korean meaning: 특정 집단을 구분하는 관습이나 신념, 특히 구식이거나 중요하지 않다고 여겨지는 것

Korean pronunciation: **쉬**벌레스

Example Sentences

  • Using chopsticks properly became a shibboleth among the food bloggers.
  • Pronouncing 'GIF' as 'jiff' instead of 'gif' has become the ultimate tech shibboleth.
  • The old shibboleth that women can't be good leaders has been thoroughly debunked.

shibboleth

NOUN

//ˈʃɪbəˌleθ//

a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important

shibboleth concept
💡 Concept

an older club member in a formal suit points disapprovingly at a younger person wearing casual modern clothes. The newcomer looks confused and uncomfortable as they're turned away from joining the dinner. Several other elegantly dressed club members nod in agreement behind the older member, reinforcing the exclusion. The rejected person backs away toward the entrance while the established group maintains their rigid formation. Other diners continue eating undisturbed, showing how normal this exclusionary behavior has become. a custom or principle distinguishing a particular group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈʃɪbəˌleθ/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈʃɪbəleθ/

🌳Etymology

Rootshibboleth

Origin

From Hebrew 'shibboleth' meaning 'ear of grain' or 'stream,' famously used in the Bible (Judges 12) as a password to distinguish friend from foe based on pronunciation differences between tribes.

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🎵Rhyme

breathdeathbeth
breath
death
beth

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📝Examples

Using chopsticks properly became a shibboleth among the food bloggers.

😄 Fun example

Pronouncing 'GIF' as 'jiff' instead of 'gif' has become the ultimate tech shibboleth.

The old shibboleth that women can't be good leaders has been thoroughly debunked.

😄 Fun example

Knowing the difference between 'your' and 'you're' serves as a grammar shibboleth online.

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📚Related Words

Synonyms

criteriontouchstonebenchmarkstandardlitmus test

Antonyms

universalitycommonality

Related

stereotypeprejudicecustomtraditionconvention