Zionism

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A Jewish movement that arose in the late 19th century in response to growing anti-Semitism and sought to reestablish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Modern Zionism is concerned with the support and development of the state of Israel.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The latest national movement of the Jews which has for its object “the creation of a home secured by public rights, for those Jews who either cannot or will not be assimilated in the country of their adoption.” (Herzl.) This revival of the national spirit in a political form was due to the anti-Semitic agitation in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Dr. Theodor Herzl of Vienna was the leader, and in his “Jewish State” (1896) he first set forth the plan of an exodus to Palestine and the organization of a state paying tribute to the Sultan and settled by a chartered company, republican in form and tolerant of all religious opinions. An organization has been formed having over 100,000 members; annual congresses are held, and a colonial bank and national fund have been established.

Wiktionary

1. n. The Jewish national liberation movement which proclaims that the Jewish people constitute a nation and are entitled their national homeland.
2. n. A mentality that the lands west of the Jordan river belong in their entirety or majority to the people of the state of Israel or the Jewish often to the exception of other previous or coordinate inhabitants.
3. n. A religion practiced by people all over sub-Saharan Africa and is most popular in Swaziland. The religion is a mixture of Protestantism and animism.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Among the Jews, a theory, plan, or movement for colonizing their own race in Palestine, the land of Zion, or, if that is impracticable, elsewhere, either for religious or nationalizing purposes; -- called also Zion movement.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a policy for establishing and developing a national homeland for Jews in Palestine
2. n. a movement of world Jewry that arose late in the 19th century with the aim of creating a Jewish state in Palestine