Diaspora

English Meaning

Lit., "Dispersion." -- applied collectively: (a) To those Jews who, after the Exile, were scattered through the Old World, and afterwards to Jewish Christians living among heathen. Cf. James i. 1. (b) By extension, to Christians isolated from their own communion, as among the Moravians to those living, usually as missionaries, outside of the parent congregation.

1. The dispersion of the Jews among the Gentiles after the Captivity.
2. Any similar dispersion.
3. A group so dispersed, especially Jews outside of the land of Israel.
4. The regions where such a dispersed group (especially the Jews) resides, taken collectively.
5. Any dispersion of an originally homogeneous entity, such as a language or culture.