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

Their show, which chronicles the love affair between a rabbi and his gentile girlfriend, scored three Globe nominations: best musical or comedy TV series, and best acting nods for Brody and Bell. —Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024

Television The Hollywood Foreign Press Association cannot resist a hot rabbi. —Jen Chaney, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024

Israeli officials called the death of the rabbi, Zvi Kogan, an act of terrorism, without providing any further details. —Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024

His father, Brian Lurie, was a rabbi and community leader. —Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 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"