bar mitz·vah
bär-ˈmits-və 
often capitalized B&M
1
: a Jewish boy who reaches his 13th birthday and attains the age of religious duty and responsibility
2
: the initiatory ceremony recognizing a boy as a bar mitzvah
bar mitzvahed; bar mitzvahing
: to administer the ceremony of bar mitzvah to
Examples of bar mitzvah in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2024
In the book, Beamer and Nathan’s entire story line takes place in the present day leading from Phyllis’s death through to the memorial and bar mitzvah.
—Cat Zhang, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2024
Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
The Musical, an adaptation of the coming-of-age Broadway show about Evan Goldman, a teen who's about to make his bar mitzvah.
—Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2022
See all Example Sentences for bar mitzvah 
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Noun
The duo, who first met at a Vancouver bar mitzvah at age 12, have numerous collaborations under their belt including Superbad, Pineapple Express, The Boys, Sausage Party, and recent spinoff Sausage Party: Foodtopia.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2024
In the book, Beamer and Nathan’s entire story line takes place in the present day leading from Phyllis’s death through to the memorial and bar mitzvah.
—Cat Zhang, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2024
Verb
Mayor William O’Dwyer attended his bar mitzvah and gave him a $20 bill.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
The Musical, an adaptation of the coming-of-age Broadway show about Evan Goldman, a teen who's about to make his bar mitzvah.
—Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2022
See all Example Sentences for bar mitzvah
Dictionary Entries Near bar mitzvah
Cite this Entry
“Bar mitzvah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bar%20mitzvah. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bar mitzvah
1 of 2 noun
bar mitz·vah
bär-ˈmits-və
often capitalized B&M
1
: a Jewish boy who on his 13th birthday reaches the age of religious duty and responsibility
2
: the ceremony recognizing a boy as a bar mitzvah
bar mitzvah
2 of 2 verb
bar mitzvahed; bar mitzvahing
: to administer the ceremony of bar mitzvah to
Etymology
Noun
from Hebrew bar miṣwāh, literally, "son of the (divine) law"
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