Rastafarian

American  

[ras-tuh-fair-ee-uhn, -fahr-, rah-stuh-] / ˌræs təˈfɛər i ən, -ˈfɑr-, ˌrɑ stə- /

noun

1. a follower of Rastafarianism.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Rastafarianism or Rastafarians.

Rastafarian British  

/ ˌræstəˈfɛərɪən /

noun

1. a member of an originally Jamaican religion that regards Ras Tafari (the former emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie) as God

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adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to the Rastafarians

Etymology

Origin of Rastafarian

First recorded in 1935; from Amharic ras täfäri “Prince Tafari,” the pre-coronation name of Haile Selassie ( ras “prince,” originally, “head”; täfäri an Amharic personal name, literally, “(one to be) feared, respected,” present participle from passive stem of the verb färra “fear, respect”) + -an

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Rastafarian

"This is not a question for the Rastafarian community only. It is a national question that cuts across the entire spectrum of our society," he added.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

Justice Neil Gorsuch’s opinion for the court tossed out a lawsuit brought by a Rastafarian inmate, Damon Landor, against the prison guards who forcibly shaved his head despite his religious objections.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

He had with him a copy of a federal appeals court opinion that said Rastafarian inmates had a protected religious right to wear dreadlocks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026

Damon Landor is a Rastafarian who followed a vow, based in the Old Testament book of Numbers, not to cut his hair.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2025

Everyone looks to Kalinda, to see if she has heard Anise’s story about this Rastafarian, and what she will do about it if she has.

From "Hurricane Child" by Kheryn Callender