Gaon

American  

[gah-ohn, gah-awn, gah-ohn, goin] / ˈgɑ oʊn, gɑˈɔn, ˈgɑ oʊn, gɔɪn /

noun

• Geonim,
  plural
• Gaons
  plural

1. 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.

2. an eminent Jewish scholar noted for wisdom and knowledge of the Talmud.

   the Gaon of Vilna.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Gaonic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Gaons
  plural
• Geonim
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Gaon

1770–80; < Hebrew: literally, majesty

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Gaon Geonim

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

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

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

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.

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 Husik, Isaac

It is only when no reading satisfies him that he assumes an interpolation or an error, in this event frequently resorting to the Responsa of the Geonim.

From Rashi by Szold, Adele

Accordingly, he aimed to show that the Tanaim, Amoraim, Saboraim, Geonim, and rabbis of later generations were versed in the sciences, were familiar with foreign history, and interested in the affairs of the world.

From The Haskalah Movement in Russia by Raisin, Jacob S.

According to tradition, Rashi has set the Talmudic period as the date of composition of two works which modern criticism has placed in the period of the Geonim.

From Rashi by Szold, Adele