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imam
[ ih-mahm ]
/ ɪˈmɑm /
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noun Islam.
the officiating priest of a mosque.
the title for a Muslim religious leader or chief.
one of a succession of seven or twelve religious leaders, believed to be divinely inspired, of the Shiʿites.
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Also i·maum [ih-mahm, ih-mawm]. /ɪˈmɑm, ɪˈmɔm/.
Origin of imam
First recorded in 1605–15, imam is from the Arabic word imām leader, guide
OTHER WORDS FROM imam
i·mam·ship, nounWords nearby imam
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use imam in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for imam
imam
imaum (ɪˈmɑːm, ɪˈmɔːm)
/ (ɪˈmɑːm) /
noun Islam
a leader of congregational prayer in a mosque
a caliph, as leader of a Muslim community
an honorific title applied to eminent doctors of Islam, such as the founders of the orthodox schools
any of a succession of either seven or twelve religious leaders of the Shiites, regarded by their followers as divinely inspired
Word Origin for imam
C17: from Arabic: leader, from amma he guided
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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