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 holiday, starting Friday night, marks the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days, leading up to Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. — Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people, is considered the day one's fate is sealed in the Book of Life. — Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 10 Sep. 2026

A week later comes Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which is widely considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. — David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Hochul has also ordered New York State Police to step up patrols near synagogues and other Jewish organizations during the holidays, which start with Rosh Hashanah at sundown Friday and continue with Yom Kippur later in the month. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 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