rabbi

rabbi — noun

1. a person who serves as a spiritual guide and teacher within the Jewish community

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who serves as a spiritual guide and teacher within the Jewish community, often leading worship sessions and giving advice on religious matters.

Example

Rabbi Tamar led the Friday evening service at the synagogue last week.

title + full name, religious leadership role

The young couple met with Rabbi Kian to discuss their wedding ceremony.

role in lifecycle events

Common collocations
  • synagogue rabbi
  • Orthodox rabbi
  • Reform rabbi
  • chief rabbi
  • serve as a rabbi
  • community rabbi
Synonyms
  • cleric

    a broader term for any ordained religious leader; less specific to Judaism

  • spiritual leader

    focuses on the guidance aspect; works across faiths

  • teacher

    captures the educational role of a rabbi but omits the religious leadership

Antonyms
  • layperson

    a member of the congregation who is not ordained

Grammar Patterns

Rabbi + [Name]

the + rabbi

Usage Note

Frequently used as a title placed directly before a full name (Rabbi Cohen) or with an article (the rabbi of our synagogue). The plural form is rabbis.

Common Mistakes

The rabbi is like a Catholic priest.
The rabbi is a teacher and spiritual leader in Judaism, but does not perform sacraments the way a priest does.
The roles of rabbi and priest differ significantly across religious traditions.

2. a title used to show respect for a Jewish teacher or spiritual guide, recognisin

2.nounB2
Definition

a title used to show respect for a Jewish teacher or spiritual guide, recognising their wisdom and knowledge.

Example

The students called their wise teacher Rabbi Stefan out of deep respect.

honorific use of title

Rabbi Sirin helped the group understand the meaning of the old stories.

mentoring role as teacher

Common collocations
  • call someone rabbi
  • address someone as rabbi
  • title of rabbi
Synonyms
  • teacher

    general term for someone who instructs; less formal than 'rabbi'

  • mentor

    emphasises guidance and personal development

  • master

    older term implying deep mastery of a subject; used in some Jewish contexts

Antonyms
  • student

    someone who learns rather than teaches

Grammar Patterns

call + [someone] + Rabbi

Rabbi + [Name]

Usage Note

In this sense, 'rabbi' functions as an honorific title rather than a formal religious position. It may be used by students who hold their teacher in exceptionally high regard, even outside a synagogue setting.

Common Mistakes

My biology teacher is a rabbi.
My biology teacher is called Rabbi by his students because of his wisdom.
In Jewish tradition, 'rabbi' is a specific title connected to religious teaching, not a general term for any teacher.

3. a person who has studied Jewish legal traditions thoroughly and can interpret re

3.nounC1
Definition

a person who has studied Jewish legal traditions thoroughly and can interpret religious laws for a community or congregation.

Example

Rabbi Manuela spent two weeks studying a single passage of Jewish law.

scholarly study of law

When a question about religious rules arose, the community turned to Rabbi Jisoo.

authority on religious legal questions

Common collocations
  • rabbinical law
  • halachic authority
  • rabbinical court
Synonyms
  • jurist

    emphasises legal expertise; usually refers to civil law rather than religious law

  • scholar

    broader term for an academic expert

  • authority

    highlights the recognised expertise of the person

Antonyms
  • novice

    a beginner in studying Jewish law

Grammar Patterns

Rabbi + [Name] + specialised in [area of law]

Usage Note

This sense emphasises scholarly expertise in halacha (Jewish law). In modern contexts, it frequently overlaps with sense 1, as most congregational rabbis are also trained in Jewish legal interpretation.

Common Mistakes

The rabbi argued the case in civil court.
The rabbi explained how Jewish law applies to business ethics.
A rabbi's legal authority lies in religious (halachic) law, not secular or civil law.

Word family

  • rabbinic
    adjectiveC1
  • rabbinical
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Rabbi, priest, minister, imam, and cleric all refer to religious leaders, but each belongs to a different tradition and carries a distinct role. A rabbi is specifically a Jewish teacher and spiritual guide whose main duties include teaching Jewish law, leading worship, and offering counsel to the community. A priest (most common in Catholicism and Orthodoxy) performs sacraments and acts as a mediator between God and worshippers. A minister typically refers to a Protestant Christian leader who preaches and leads congregational worship. An imam is the prayer leader in Islam, often also guiding the community on religious matters. Cleric is the broadest, most formal term for any ordained religious leader, regardless of faith. For example: 'Rabbi Tamar taught the Torah portion' focuses on teaching, while 'Father Michael heard confessions as a priest' focuses on sacramental duties.

rabbi ↗priest ↗minister ↗imamcleric

Common collocations

Nouns

  • Rabbi [Name]
  • synagogue rabbi
  • community rabbi
  • chief rabbi

Phrases

  • study to become a rabbi
  • consult a rabbi
  • study with a rabbi
  • train as a rabbi

Prepositions

  • rabbi of [synagogue/community]

Etymology

HebrewAramaicGreekLatinEnglish

The word 'rabbi' comes from Hebrew 'rav' (רַב), meaning 'great' or 'master,' combined with the possessive suffix '-i' (meaning 'my'), giving 'rabbi' (רַבִּי) — literally 'my master.' It entered English via Greek and Latin translations of the New Testament, where it was used as an honorific title for Jewish teachers. Over time it shifted from a general term of respect to a formal title for ordained Jewish spiritual leaders.