bible

noun

bi·ble ˈbī-bəl

capitalized, religion

: the sacred scriptures of Christians comprising the Old Testament and the New Testament

: the sacred scriptures of some other religion (such as Judaism)

obsolete : book

capitalized religion : a copy or an edition of the Bible

gave each of her grandchildren a Bible

: a publication that is preeminent especially in authoritativeness or wide readership

the fisherman's bible

the bible of the entertainment industry

Example Sentences

She gave each of her grandchildren a Bible. The book is famous among foodies—it's the gourmet's bible. The magazine is now considered the bible of the plastics industry.

Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, neither Dylann Roof, who pleaded guilty to massacring nine people at a Charleston bible study, nor James Fields, who was convicted of killing a Charlottesville demonstrator with his car, were sentenced with the terrorism enhancement.

Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2022 The travelers relied on the Thomas Cook Continental Timetable, a bible for European train travelers that details all the train times and the distance in miles between stations.

Francesca Street, CNN, 25 May 2022 The book has been translated into 15 languages and is regarded by many across the world as a bible of ecological principles.

Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 May 2022 Neither Dylann Roof, who pled guilty to massacring nine people at a Charleston bible study, nor James Fields, who was convicted of killing a Charlottesville demonstrator with his car, were sentenced with the terrorism enhancement.

Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2022 Reznikoff has handled several auctions of former first lady items, including a bible of Mary Todd Lincoln's, which sold for $90,000, and accessories that belonged to Jacqueline Kennedy, including a pair of white gloves that fetched $2,400.

Kate Bennett, CNN, 13 Jan. 2022 For nearly seven decades, Finley’s publication remained the bible of New York Fashion Week.

Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2022 To me Manu Chao has always represented hope, his lyrics were like a bible to me growing up.

Billboard Staff, Billboard, 21 Jan. 2022 Aspiras and Tanno spent months building a bible to guide their looks that referenced every shade, color and hairstyle for every single scene of the movie.

Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 26 Nov. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin biblia, from Greek, plural of biblion book, diminutive of byblos papyrus, book, from Byblos, ancient Phoenician city from which papyrus was exported

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of bible was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century