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

The other was being a rabbi and understanding the power of community. —Ashoka, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

Rabbi Moshe Matz is the executive director of Agudath Israel’s Florida office and serves as rabbi of the Aventura Shul in Aventura. —Moshe Matz, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025

Among the march’s participants was Israel Meir Lau, former chief rabbi of Israel and a child survivor of Buchenwald, who personally met Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the Allied offensive against the Nazis in Europe, during the camp’s liberation. —Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2025

An Israeli military rabbi read a traditional Jewish mourners prayer and troops fired ceremonial shots in the air, before a convoy drove the coffins across the border to Israel. —Daniel Estrin, NPR, 20 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for rabbi

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

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"