bar mitzvah

American  

[bahr mits-vuh, bahr, bahr meets-vah] / bɑr ˈmɪts və, bɑr, ˌbɑr mitsˈvɑ /

Or bar mizvah

noun

(often initial capital letters)

1. a solemn ceremony held in the synagogue, usually on Saturday morning, to admit as an adult member of the Jewish community a Jewish boy 13 years old who has successfully completed a prescribed course of study in Judaism.

2. the boy participating in this ceremony.

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verb (used with object)

1. to administer the ceremony of bar mitzvah to.

   Our son was bar mitzvahed at the family synagogue.

Bar Mitzvah British  

/ bɑː ˈmɪtsvə /

adjective

1. (of a Jewish boy) having assumed full religious obligations, being at least thirteen years of age

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noun

1. the occasion, ceremony, or celebration of that event

2. the boy himself on that day

bar mitzvah Cultural  

1. An important ceremony and social event in Judaism marking the beginning of religious responsibility for Jewish boys of thirteen. Bar mitzvah is Hebrew for “son of the commandment.”

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Etymology

Origin of bar mitzvah

1860–65; < Biblical Aramaic bar son + Hebrew miṣwāh divine law, commandment

Compare meaning

How does bar-mitzvah compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• bar mitzvah vs. bat mitzvah

Example Sentences

Bandel came with his entire family to celebrate his grandson's upcoming bar mitzvah, the Jewish coming-of-age ritual.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

As a child in New Orleans, Nicholas Lemann never attended a bar mitzvah or heard Hebrew.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

As a child in New Orleans, Mr. Lemann never attended a bar mitzvah or bris; he heard neither Yiddish nor Hebrew.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Yoshi has a bar mitzvah; Naomi is honored for her charitable work.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2025

I was planning on giving them a bar mitzvah preview, since Dana says I’m getting good.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman