What does kibbutz mean?
A kibbutz is a community, especially an agricultural one, traditionally established in Israel or historic Palestine on the basis of shared land ownership, cooperative production, and collective decision-making. Members commonly worked together in farming, childcare, food production, and other aspects of community life, sharing resources and housing in ways that were intended to reduce inequality. The word can refer either to an individual community or more broadly to the kibbutz movement, whose members established many settlements during the early decades of the Zionist land-settlement project. Over time, some kibbutzim became privatized or adopted more conventional business structures, but the term retains a strong association with collective agriculture and social cooperation. It is primarily used when discussing Israel and is not a general synonym for every cooperative or intentional community.
nounA kibbutz is a voluntary, typically agricultural community in Israel, traditionally based on collective ownership of land and shared work. The term is also used for the historical settlement movement that established such communities.
- An Israeli community, especially an agricultural settlement, organized around shared ownership, cooperative work, and communal life.
- The kibbutz movement, particularly the settlement movement that established communities in Palestine and later Israel.
"She spent a year working on an organic farm at a kibbutz near the Sea of Galilee."
"The kibbutz produces olives, dates, and vegetables for markets throughout Israel."
"The history of the kibbutz movement has been debated for its ideals of equality, cooperation, and collective ownership."
The standard plural of kibbutz is kibbutzim, with the final z pronounced /s/.
"Several kibbutzim in northern Israel produce wine and olive oil."
The kibbutz began as a response to the practical challenges of cultivating land in Palestine, combining agricultural cooperation with shared ownership and communal decision-making.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kibbutz come from?
The word comes from Hebrew קִבּוּץ (qibbūṣ), meaning “gathering” or “collection.” It derives from the Hebrew root קבץ (q-b-ṣ), associated with gathering or collecting. The term was adopted during the development of Jewish agricultural settlements in Palestine and became internationally known through the kibbutz movement.
Related word forms
How kibbutz is actually used
The word is most commonly associated with Israel and its historical settlement movement. Although many kibbutzim remain cooperative agricultural communities, some have undergone substantial changes in ownership and organization.