Gaon
Americannoun
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Geonim,
plural
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Gaons
plural
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a title of honor for the directors of the Jewish academies at Sura and Pumbedita in Babylonia, used from the end of the 6th century a.d. to about the beginning of the 11th century.
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an eminent Jewish scholar noted for wisdom and knowledge of the Talmud.
the Gaon of Vilna.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of Gaon
1770–80; < Hebrew: literally, majesty
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.
See Examples For:
Immigration Services Commissioner Gaon Hart, who oversees the regulation of immigration advisers, said there was "abhorrent abuse of the system" and a minority of advisers were damaging the reputation of the sector.
From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026
Immigration Services Commissioner Gaon Hart said: "Our message to the public is clear - only use registered advisers, anything else puts you at serious risk."
From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026
South Korea celebrated snowboarding sensation Choi Gaon as a "miracle girl" and history-maker on Friday after soaring to the country's first Olympic gold in the sport.
From Barron's ● Feb. 13, 2026
South Korean teenager Choi Gaon shocked US snowboard superstar Chloe Kim in the Olympic women's halfpipe final on Thursday as the American missed out on a historic hat-trick.
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
“So,” he said softly, “it is pilpul. I see you do not like pilpul....Nu, the great Vilna Gaon also did not like pilpul.”
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
It was adopted by some of the later Geonim from the Muʿtazila.
From A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy by Isaac Husik
Maimonides, in later times, frequently adopted this method of communicating with whole communities, and many of the Geonim and other Jewish authorities followed the same plan.
From The Book of Delight and Other Papers by Israel Abrahams
My dear mother also, whose ancestors were leading Jews amongst the rabbis, was fond of telling us wonderful stories of her grandfather, who was a famous disciple of the great Geonim of Wilna.
From Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ by B.D.
He submitted them to a judicial and minute examination, collecting all the material he needed furnished by the Geonim as well as by his immediate masters.
From Rashi by Adele Szold
The succession of Geonim in the Talmudical schools of Sura and Pumbadita, and particularly the great fame of Saadia, made all the other Jewish communities of the world look to Babylonia as the spiritual centre.
From A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy by Isaac Husik
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