rabbi

noun

rab·​bi ˈra-ˌbī How to pronounce rabbi (audio)
Synonyms of rabbinext
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.
Michtom had studied to become a rabbi before fleeing conscription in the Russian army. — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 Galliano met with Jewish leaders and rabbis following the scandal and received blessings from groups like the Anti-Defamation League. — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2026 He was sworn in on a Tanakh, or the Hebrew Bible, that had previously belonged to Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, a civil rights leader and rabbi of The Temple in Atlanta from 1946 to 1973. — Irene Wright, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 But congregants at the Midtown synagogue didn’t let the violence stop them from finishing the Shabbat service, according to Central Synagogue’s senior rabbi. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026 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 + -ī 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

Rhymes for rabbi

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Browse Nearby Words

rabbet plane
rabbi
rabbin
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Cite this Entry

“Rabbi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabbi. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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 -ī "my"

More from Merriam-Webster on rabbi

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rabbi

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rabbi

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