Barabbas

noun

Ba·​rab·​bas bə-ˈra-bəs How to pronounce Barabbas (audio)
: a prisoner according to Matthew, Mark, and John released in preference to Christ at the demand of the multitude

Word History

Etymology

Greek, from Aramaic Bar-abba

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Barabbas was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Barabbas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Barabbas. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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