imam

[ ih-mahm ]

nounIslam.
  1. the officiating priest of a mosque.

  2. the title for a Muslim religious leader or chief.

  1. one of a succession of seven or twelve religious leaders, believed to be divinely inspired, of the Shiʿites.

Origin of imam

1
First recorded in 1605–15, imam is from the Arabic word imām leader, guide
  • Also i·maum [ih-mahm, ih-mawm]. /ɪˈmɑm, ɪˈmɔm/.

Other words from imam

  • i·mam·ship, noun

Words that may be confused with imam

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for imam

imam

imaum (ɪˈmɑːm, ɪˈmɔːm)

/ (ɪˈmɑːm) /


nounIslam
  1. a leader of congregational prayer in a mosque

  2. a caliph, as leader of a Muslim community

  1. an honorific title applied to eminent doctors of Islam, such as the founders of the orthodox schools

  2. any of a succession of either seven or twelve religious leaders of the Shiites, regarded by their followers as divinely inspired

Origin of imam

1
C17: from Arabic: leader, from amma he guided

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