rabbi

noun

rab·​bi ˈra-ˌbī 

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

In April, on an evening as breezy as Trixie and Katya’s banter, a rabbi summarized the grooms’ relationship to about 175 of their friends and relatives. —Jessica Testa, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024

Herzl, who received the letter from the French chief rabbi, assured Khalidi in his reply that the Zionists would develop the land for the benefit of all inhabitants, including the Arabs. —Tom Segev, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

Over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested by New York police last week, while a rabbi linked to the school has urged Jewish students to stay home for their safety. —Koh Ewe, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024

Stern was dressed in chinos and an oversized wool blazer; Margie, who served as the congregation’s rabbi for fifteen years, until 2020, watched from the audience. —Eyal Press, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024

In this rabbi’s view, the idea of a battle between faith and reason sets boundaries where none need exist. —Randy L. Friedman, The Conversation, 16 Feb. 2024

House committee unanimous Members of the House education committee on Wednesday heard hours of testimony on House Bill 1002, from individuals including rabbis, Jewish college students and pro-Palestine college students. —Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Jan. 2024

The young rabbi also risked being blacklisted for starting a nondenominational community that has since grown to more than 1,200 households. —Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024

Lieberman asked his wife on the ride home from the event, per the rabbi's retelling. —Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024

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

Kids Definition

rabbi

noun

rab·​bi ˈrab-ˌī 

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"