rabbi

noun

rab·​bi ˈra-ˌbī How to pronounce rabbi (audio)
1
: master, teacher
used by Jews as a term of address
2
: a Jew qualified to expound and apply the halacha and other Jewish law
3
: a Jew trained and ordained for professional religious leadership
specifically : the official leader of a Jewish congregation

Examples of rabbi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The protest, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, a national Jewish anti-Zionist organization, included rabbis, students, Israeli Americans and descendants of Holocaust survivors. Ellie Silverman, Washington Post, 23 July 2024 The rabbi, Rachel Timoner, is Ondi Timoner’s sister. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Aug. 2024 Speakers included long-time pastor and civil rights activist Rev. Joseph Ellwanger, local rabbi Michal Woll and Muslim community leader Janan Najeeb. Zoe Jaeger, Journal Sentinel, 13 July 2024 Lissy directs the New York Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform, which is chaired by Haber, a rabbi and director of Social Justice Organizing and Education at Central Synagogue. Hilly Haber, New York Daily News, 12 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for rabbi 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rabbi.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek rhabbi, from Hebrew rabbī my master, from rabh master + my

First Known Use

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near rabbi

Cite this Entry

“Rabbi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabbi. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

rabbi

noun
rab·​bi ˈrab-ˌī How to pronounce rabbi (audio)
1
: master entry 1 sense 1a, teacher
used as a term of address for Jewish religious leaders
2
: a professionally trained leader of a Jewish congregation
rabbinic
rə-ˈbin-ik
ra-
adjective
or rabbinical
-i-kəl
Etymology

Old English rabbi "term of address used for Jewish religious leaders," from Latin rabbi (same meaning), from Greek rhabbi (same meaning), from Hebrew rabbī "my master," from rabh "master" and the suffix "my"

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