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

So far, Rabbinic Fit Check has featured 57 rabbis, clergy members and students from a range of denominations and garnered over 1,300 followers. —Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026

While the first season saw her character falling in love with Adam Brody's Noah, a young rabbi, season two saw the unlikely pair navigating the ups and downs of a new relationship. —Meg Walters, InStyle, 4 Jan. 2026

At a Jewish wedding, the procession starts with the rabbi or cantor. —Shelby Wax, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2026

Among those killed was the nephew of Yisroel Goldstein, the rabbi who was shot and wounded in 2019 in the antisemitic attack at Chabad of Poway. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2025

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"