rabbi

noun

rab·​bi ˈra-ˌbī 

1

: master, teacher

—used by Jews as a term of address

2

: a Jew qualified to expound and apply the halacha and other Jewish law

3

: a Jew trained and ordained for professional religious leadership

specifically : the official leader of a Jewish congregation

Examples of rabbi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Brettler was just 19, a recent graduate of an expensive private school, and the grandson of a famous London rabbi. —Frank Langfitt, NPR, 4 Apr. 2026

The abundance of light that Koestenbaum sheds on the rabbi is humorous, sure, but also humanistic. —Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026

Blending traditional rituals with modern themes, Temple Judea’s women’s Passover Seder drew 300 local women including several female rabbis, cantors and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who is the county’s first Jewish mayor. —Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026

Two months later, Felder wrote to the rabbis again. —Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek rhabbi, from Hebrew rabbī my master, from rabh master + -ī my

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rabbi

• apply
• awry
• belie
• bely
• bigeye
• bonsai
• buckeye
• comply
• coxae
• decry
• defy
• deny

Kids Definition

rabbi

noun

rab·​bi ˈrab-ˌī 

1

: master entry 1 sense 1a, teacher

—used as a term of address for Jewish religious leaders

2

: a professionally trained leader of a Jewish congregation

rabbinic

rə-ˈbin-ik, 

ra-

adjective

or rabbinical

-i-kəl

Etymology

Old English rabbi "term of address used for Jewish religious leaders," from Latin rabbi (same meaning), from Greek rhabbi (same meaning), from Hebrew rabbī "my master," from rabh "master" and the suffix -ī "my"