Gaon

American  

[gah-ohn, gah-awn, gah-ohn, goin] / ˈgɑ oʊn, gɑˈɔn, ˈgɑ oʊn, gɔɪn /

noun

plural

Geonim,

plural

Gaons

1. a title of honor for the directors of the Jewish academies at Sura and Pumbedita in Babylonia, used from the end of the 6th century a.d. to about the beginning of the 11th century.

2. an eminent Jewish scholar noted for wisdom and knowledge of the Talmud.

   the Gaon of Vilna.

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Other Word Forms

• Gaonic adjective

Etymology

Origin of Gaon

1770–80; < Hebrew: literally, majesty

Example Sentences

South Korea celebrated snowboarding sensation Choi Gaon as a "miracle girl" and history-maker on Friday after soaring to the country's first Olympic gold in the sport.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

South Korean teenager Choi Gaon shocked US snowboard superstar Chloe Kim in the Olympic women's halfpipe final on Thursday as the American missed out on a historic hat-trick.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

She pleaded with surrounding neighbors to extend compassion to Gaon, who she said has trouble breaking his routines.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2025

Jaynes said Gaon is a private man who obtained a biology degree in college and allows the vegetation in his front yard to overgrow so he can observe butterflies and other insects.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2025

“So,” he said softly, “it is pilpul. I see you do not like pilpul....Nu, the great Vilna Gaon also did not like pilpul.”

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok