responsum

noun

re·​spon·​sum ri-ˈspän(t)-səm 

plural responsa ri-ˈspän(t)-sə 

: a written decision from a rabbinic authority in response to a submitted question or problem

Examples of responsum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The answer came back as a responsum from Rabbi Joseph Polak, a Holocaust survivor and Chief Justice of the Rabbinical Council of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and New England, written with Michael Grodin of Boston University. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, reply, response

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for responsum

• callosum
• nodosum
• overcome
• pyrethrum
• saccharum
• abomasum
• become
• checksum
• humdrum
• income
• outcome
• pisum