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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Stanton, a rabbi, is associate vice president for Interfaith and Intergroup Initiatives at the Jewish Federations of North America. Joshua Stanton, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025 Their grandfather on their mother’s side had been a rabbi. Gabra Zackman Emma Kehlbeck Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025 Fink, a married father of three, was a lawyer and the former rabbi of the Pacific Jewish Center (now known as the Shul on the Beach) in Venice Beach, California. Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2025 The standoff lasted 10 hours until the rabbi, drawing on extensive security training, hurled a chair at the assailant. Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rabbi

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rabbi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabbi. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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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