Yom Kippur

noun

Yom Kip·​pur ˌyōm-ki-ˈpu̇r 

ˌyȯm-, 

ˌyäm- 

-ˈki-pər, 

-(ˌ)pu̇r

: a Jewish holiday observed with fasting and prayer on the 10th day of Tishri in accordance with the rites described in Leviticus 16

called also Day of Atonement

Examples of Yom Kippur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Samaria regional council said the killed man, Netanel Shakron, was a settler who had been bathing at a spring ahead of Yom Kippur. — Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026

Wall Street does not take Yom Kippur off, technically, but the usual flow of reactions Monday was muted due to the holiday. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the shooting took place outside the synagogue as people gathered for Yom Kippur. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026

Ian MacAlpine/The Canadian Press via AP Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the shooting took place outside the synagogue as people gathered for Yom Kippur. — CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew yōm kippūr, literally, day of atonement

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Yom Kippur

• chipper
• clipper
• dipper
• flipper
• gripper
• kipper
• nipper
• ripper
• shipper
• skipper
• slipper
• stripper

Kids Definition

Yom Kippur

noun

Yom Kip·​pur ˌyōm-ki-ˈpu̇r  ˌyȯm- 

ˌyäm-, 

-ˈkip-ər

: a Jewish holiday observed in September or October with fasting and prayer as ways of making up for sins