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

The Tennessean sat down with Schiftan, 65, who retired as senior rabbi from The Temple in Nashville, and Boehm, 85, who retired from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, to talk about their friendship and their project. —Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 28 Aug. 2025

The rabbi’s executive assistant who sent the original email to Guthrie confirmed its veracity to the AP. —Kate Payne, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025

The rabbi of Sha'arei Shalom Congregation reported a previous incident of antisemitic flyers being posted on the synagogue door. —Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Among the parents challenging the law are two Jewish rabbis, a Jewish cantor, a Presbyterian reverend and a Baptist pastor. —Jenna Sundel gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 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"