a solemn ceremony, chiefly among Reform and Conservative Jews, that is held in the synagogue on Friday night or Saturday morning to admit formally as an adult member of the Jewish community a girl 12 to 13 years old.
the girl participating in this ceremony.
the date of, or, in some congregations, a ceremony marking, this event
the girl herself on that day
From Hebrew bath miṣwāh literally, “daughter of the divine law”
How does bat-mitzvah compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His best-known innovation—his introduction, in 1922, of the modern bat mitzvah, to mark the 12th birthdays of Jewish girls—is now standard practice in all but Orthodox synagogues.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026
But this is optional, not obligatory — especially if your daughter has said that she is happy with the current plans for her bat mitzvah.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 26, 2025
If it’s your niece’s bat mitzvah, it’s suddenly like: Are you supposed to give $18,000 instead of $360?
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2025
She also reads Hebrew, had her bat mitzvah and, like her mom and dad, loves to roam the city.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2025
She started dancing as though she were the awkward cousin at a bat mitzvah.
From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben
When she turned 11, Chishti’s parents told her she would have two coming-of-age ceremonies — a Bat Mitzvah and one where she recited the Shahada — the Muslim profession of faith.
From Seattle Times ● May 25, 2024
Mrs Brisley said she last saw her daughter and grandchildren in July, after they attended Yahel's Bat Mitzvah, where they spent their two-week holiday "playing in the pool" and "playing silly games".
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2023
Adam Sandler sparked a nepo-baby debate for casting daughters Sunny and Sadie in ‘You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2023
“My daughter Judith was the first one to have her Bat Mitzvah celebrated there.”
From Washington Post ● Mar. 1, 2022
It asked a bunch of hypothetical questions, such as, “If given the chance to travel with a top circus troupe or to corner the Long Island Bat Mitzvah market, which would you choose?”
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2012
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.
