variants
often Imam
1
: the prayer leader of a mosque
2
: a Muslim leader of the line of Ali held by Shiites to be the divinely appointed, sinless, infallible successors of Muhammad
3
: any of various rulers that claim descent from Muhammad and exercise spiritual and temporal leadership over a Muslim region
Examples of imam in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During last week's Friday prayers, imams in mosques in Herat issued announcements on behalf of the vice and virtue ministry that women were not allowed to leave their homes without wearing the hijab.
—
ABC News, 9 June 2026
But Kadous says that users are also asking Ansari to help guide them through difficult times, which concerns him, because the questions would be better directed at an imam or another community member.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 26 May 2026
Speaking at a news conference with San Diego police and the FBI the day after the shooting, the Islamic Center’s imam said the mosque was accustomed to receiving hate mail, hateful messages online and hearing passing drivers scream and curse at community members.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2026
The holy day commemorates the martyrdom of Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī, who was Muhammad’s grandson by his daughter Fāṭimah and his son-in-law ʿAlī and is revered by the Shiʿah as the third imam.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for imam
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
ABC News, 9 June 2026
But Kadous says that users are also asking Ansari to help guide them through difficult times, which concerns him, because the questions would be better directed at an imam or another community member.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 26 May 2026
Speaking at a news conference with San Diego police and the FBI the day after the shooting, the Islamic Center’s imam said the mosque was accustomed to receiving hate mail, hateful messages online and hearing passing drivers scream and curse at community members.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2026
The holy day commemorates the martyrdom of Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī, who was Muhammad’s grandson by his daughter Fāṭimah and his son-in-law ʿAlī and is revered by the Shiʿah as the third imam.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for imam
Cite this Entry
“Imam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imam. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
