Illustration of menorah
: a candelabra with seven or nine lights that is used in Jewish worship
Did you know?
The Menorah and Hanukkah
In English, menorah was originally the name for the seven-branched candelabra used in Jewish worship. The nine-branched Hanukkah candelabra is called hanukkiah in Hebrew, but English speakers came to use menorah for this too. The Hanukkah menorah recalls expulsion by Judah Maccabee of invading forces from the Temple of Jerusalem. Maccabee and his followers sought oil for the temple’s menorah so that the sanctuary could be rededicated, but they found only enough oil for a single day. Miraculously, that tiny amount of oil burned for eight days, until a new supply could be obtained. The Hanukkah menorah includes a candle for each day the oil burned, plus the shammes, a "servant candle" that is used to light the others.
Examples of menorah in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The menorah was displayed as a part of a Hanukkah ceremony that took place in front of the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s office at 200 NW Second Ave.
—
Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
District Attorney Summer Stephan reminded the crowd that San Diego is not free of its own tragedies spurned by antisemitic hate and bigotry, including instances of hateful graffiti vandalizing a synagogue and destruction of a menorah at The Chabad House at San Diego State University.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2025
An arrest has been made after a man was caught on video knocking over and vandalizing a menorah outside the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's Office on Monday night, police confirmed.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
On Sunday night, the final Hanukkah candle was lit on menorahs around Orange County, illuminating the candelabrum in its full splendor of eight lights.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for menorah
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.
Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
District Attorney Summer Stephan reminded the crowd that San Diego is not free of its own tragedies spurned by antisemitic hate and bigotry, including instances of hateful graffiti vandalizing a synagogue and destruction of a menorah at The Chabad House at San Diego State University.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2025
An arrest has been made after a man was caught on video knocking over and vandalizing a menorah outside the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector's Office on Monday night, police confirmed.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025
On Sunday night, the final Hanukkah candle was lit on menorahs around Orange County, illuminating the candelabrum in its full splendor of eight lights.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for menorah
Cite this Entry
“Menorah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menorah. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
menorah
noun
me·no·rah
mə-ˈnȯr-ə 
: a holder for candles used in Jewish worship
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share