Rastafarianism
noun
Ras·ta·far·i·an·ism
ˌrä-stə-ˈfär-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm 
ˌra-stə-ˈfer-
: a religious movement among Black Jamaicans that teaches the eventual redemption of Black people and their return to Africa, employs the ritualistic use of marijuana, forbids the cutting of hair, and venerates Haile Selassie as a god
Examples of Rastafarianism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Torah reverberates in mystical echoes down the halls of Black America (all the Americas): in Southern spirituals, Marcus Garvey, Rastafarianism.
—
Benjamin Hale
june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Not everyone is always up for being challenged by a serious look at the history of Rastafarianism.
—PCMAG, 27 Feb. 2025
Early Rastafarianism designated Ethiopia’s emperor Haile Selassie I as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and the rightful messiah for Black people, rather than the white version they’d been raised to exalt.
—Lawrence Burney, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2024
Another element of the movie that really stood out to me was how the movie presented Rastafarianism.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 9 Mar. 2024
One Love explores the singer’s commitment to Rastafarianism and its impact on his consciousness with a light touch.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2024
The reggae artist Sizzla is planning to transform Judgment Yard, his property in August Town, Kingston, into a place where all are welcomed to stay and experience Rastafarianism.
—Text By Nicole Dennis-Benn, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2023
Prime Minister Michael Manley and his party, People’s National Party, had long embraced Rastafarianism, and Manley himself had publicly overlooked marijuana farming until American authorities began to apply pressure in the mid-1970s.
—Kristen McGuiness, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2022
Meanwhile, many black Americans have special access to Ghanaian passports, Rastafarianism in the Caribbean celebrates Africa as the home of black people, and heritage tourism from North and South America and the Caribbean to West Africa has boomed.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2015
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Benjamin Hale
june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Not everyone is always up for being challenged by a serious look at the history of Rastafarianism.
—PCMAG, 27 Feb. 2025
Early Rastafarianism designated Ethiopia’s emperor Haile Selassie I as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and the rightful messiah for Black people, rather than the white version they’d been raised to exalt.
—Lawrence Burney, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2024
Another element of the movie that really stood out to me was how the movie presented Rastafarianism.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 9 Mar. 2024
One Love explores the singer’s commitment to Rastafarianism and its impact on his consciousness with a light touch.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2024
The reggae artist Sizzla is planning to transform Judgment Yard, his property in August Town, Kingston, into a place where all are welcomed to stay and experience Rastafarianism.
—Text By Nicole Dennis-Benn, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2023
Prime Minister Michael Manley and his party, People’s National Party, had long embraced Rastafarianism, and Manley himself had publicly overlooked marijuana farming until American authorities began to apply pressure in the mid-1970s.
—Kristen McGuiness, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2022
Meanwhile, many black Americans have special access to Ghanaian passports, Rastafarianism in the Caribbean celebrates Africa as the home of black people, and heritage tourism from North and South America and the Caribbean to West Africa has boomed.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2015
Cite this Entry
“Rastafarianism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Rastafarianism. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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