imam

American  

[ih-mahm] / ɪˈmɑm /

Also imaum

noun

Islam.

1. the officiating priest of a mosque.

2. the title for a Muslim religious leader or chief.

3. one of a succession of seven or twelve religious leaders, believed to be divinely inspired, of the Shiʿites.

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imam British  

/ ɪˈmɑːm, ɪˈmɑːm, ɪˈmɔːm /

noun

1. a leader of congregational prayer in a mosque

2. a caliph, as leader of a Muslim community

3. an honorific title applied to eminent doctors of Islam, such as the founders of the orthodox schools

4. any of a succession of either seven or twelve religious leaders of the Shiites, regarded by their followers as divinely inspired

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• imamship
  noun

Etymology

Origin of imam

First recorded in 1605–15, imam is from the Arabic word imām leader, guide

Explanation

An imam is a Muslim religious leader. If you’re curious about a mosque, go talk to the imam, the person who leads the prayers. For a Sunni Muslim, the imam is a religious leader who provides community service and sometimes counseling. To a Shi'a Muslim, an imam is even more important—he is one of the central religious figures. Shi'a believe that God has chosen the imam to be a "perfect example" to everyone else and that an imam is free from sin. The literal meaning of imam in Arabic is "one who proceeds," from amma, "to go before."

Example Sentences

Imam Taha Hassane, the director of the Islamic Center of San Diego, said at a news conference: "It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship."

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Imam Nahe'i, who teaches at a large Islamic boarding school, says that when he asked he found his fellow teachers "didn't understand what sexual violence was".

From BBC • May 13, 2026

The text that accompanies the image specifically references Imam Ali’s victory in the battle of Khaybar, home to a historic Jewish community.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

Instead, the head of the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, attended prayers at central Tehran's Imam Khomeini grand mosque, which was overflowing, with worshippers flooding the streets outside.

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

Imam Malik and a police officer stand side by side and are taking turns answering questions.

From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan