dayan

¹ American

[dah-yahn, dah-yawn] / dɑˈjɑn, dɑˈjɔn /

noun

Hebrew.

a judge in a Jewish religious court.
a person knowledgeable in Talmudic law whose advice on religious questions is often sought by rabbis.

Dayan ² American

[dah-yahn] / dɑˈjɑn /

noun

Moshe 1915–81, Israeli politician and military leader: defense minister 1967–74, foreign minister 1977–79.

Dayan ¹ British

/ daɪˈjɑːn /

noun

Moshe (ˈmɒʃɛ). 1915–81, Israeli soldier and statesman; minister of defence (1967; 1969–74) and foreign minister (1977–79)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

dayan ² British

/ dɑˈjɑn, ˈdɑjən /

noun

Judaism a senior rabbi, esp one who sits in a religious court

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

dayanim

plural

Etymology

Origin of dayan

dayyān judge

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.

“Baruch dayan ha’emet,” Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt began the memorial service.

From Washington Post • Sep. 23, 2020

At last she said, “Chosen. Yesterday. Boruch dayan ernes.”

From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023