Adonai

noun

Ado·nai ˌä-də-ˈnȯi

-ˈnī

—used in place of YHWH as a name of the God of the Hebrews during prayer recitation

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew 'ădhōnāy

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Adonai was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Adonai.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Adonai. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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