Abba
1 Americannoun
-
a title of reverence for bishops and patriarchs in the Coptic, Ethiopian Christian, and Syriac churches.
-
New Testament. an Aramaic word for father, used by Jesus and Paul to address God in a relation of personal intimacy.
noun
noun
-
New Testament father (used of God)
-
a title given to bishops and patriarchs in the Syrian, Coptic, and Ethiopian Churches
noun
Etymology
Origin of Abba
From the Aramaic word abbā “father”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Olivia Dean speaks about obliterating a record held by Abba, toppling Jay-Z and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and why meeting Stevie Wonder almost did her in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
Dean commanded the No. 1 song and album in New Zealand for more than 22 weeks, obliterating a record previously held by Abba.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
The nuptials culminated on Saturday with a wedding breakfast hosted by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who offered his blessing to the newlyweds.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
Justice Abba, Scotland's number one in the super heavyweight class, is beating a punchbag into submission.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Ugwu was the first to see people trooping on the dirt road that ran through Abba.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.