psalm

noun

ˈsäm 

ˈsälm,

ˈsȯm,

ˈsȯlm 

often capitalized

: a sacred song or poem used in worship

especially : one of the biblical hymns collected in the Book of Psalms

Synonyms

• anthem
• canticle
• carol
• chorale
• hymn
• spiritual

Examples of psalm in a Sentence

after the sermon we sang a brief psalm

Recent Examples on the Web

The funeral of Pope Francis began with a short musical chant and psalm spoken in Latin after an open Book of the Gospels had been placed on top of Pope Francis’ closed coffin carried by pallbearers from inside St. Peter’s and placed on a red carpet on the edge of the church steps. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Apr. 2025

Fronted by the Swiss Guard, cardinals and other church leaders led the slow procession into the sunlit esplanade as a male choir chanted psalms and prayers in Latin and the great bells of the basilica tolled. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025

The faithful will recite several religious verses, including psalm 22, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd,’ during the service. —Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025

The rabbi intones psalms and speaks about his mother, offering recollections of her and the principal details of her life: birth in the embers of the Shoah, Yiddishkeit, Soviet existence, antisemitism, immigration, courage, struggle, family, community, legacy. —David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English psealm, from Late Latin psalmus, from Greek psalmos, literally, twanging of a harp, from psallein to pluck, play a stringed instrument

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

psalm

noun

ˈsäm  ˈsälm 

1

: a sacred song or poem

2

capitalized : one of the hymns that make up the Old Testament Book of Psalms

Etymology

Old English psealm "psalm," from Latin psalmus (same meaning), from Greek psalmos "psalm," literally, "twanging of a harp," from psallein "to pluck, play a stringed musical instrument"

Word Origin

The Greek word psallein originally meant "to pull" or "to pluck." It then came to be used with the meaning "to play a stringed musical instrument." From this verb came the noun psalmos, which literally meant "the twanging of a harp." Since harp music often accompanied singing, psalmos took on the meaning of "a song sung to harp music" and later simply "a song or poem." It was borrowed into Latin as psalmus and came into English as psalm.