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Jewish calendar

American  
[joo-ish kal-uhn-der] / ˈdʒu ɪʃ ˈkæl ən dər /

noun

  1. a lunisolar calendar used by Jews, as for determining religious holidays, that is reckoned from 3761 b.c. and was established by Hillel II in the 4th century a.d., with the calendar year consisting of 353 days defective year, 354 days regular year, or 355 days perfect year or abundant year and containing 12 months: Tishri, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, Adar, Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, and Elul, with the 29-day intercalary month of Adar I added before Adar seven times in every 19-year cycle in order to adjust the calendar to the solar cycle. The Jewish religious year begins with Nisan and the civil year with Tishri.


Jewish calendar British  

noun

  1. Also called: Hebrew calendar.  the lunisolar calendar used by the Jews, in which time is reckoned from 3761 bc : regarded as the year of the Creation. The months, Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishri, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, and Adar, have either 29 or 30 days. Originally a new month was declared when the new moon was sighted in Jerusalem, but when this became impossible, a complex formula was devised to keep Rosh Chodesh near to the new moon. In addition, to keep the harvest festivals in the right seasons, there is a Metonic cycle of 14 years, in five of which an additional month is added after Shevat. The year according to biblical reckoning begins with Nisan, and the civil year begins with Tishri; the years are numbered from Tishri See also Adar

"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

Etymology

Origin of Jewish calendar

First recorded in 1790–95

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.

Worshippers had gathered there for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

From Barron's • Nov. 27, 2025

Charles was introduced to the "heroes" by Rabbi Daniel Walker - a group of senior figures from the synagogue who helped stop the attack on the on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

From BBC • Oct. 20, 2025

It’s also Rosh Hashana, one of the High Holy Days of the Jewish calendar.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2024

The shock that Israelis felt on Saturday morning — on Simchat Torah, one of the most joyous days of the Jewish calendar — recalled the surprise of the the 1973 Mideast war.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 7, 2023

“They do not know from the Jewish calendar in Lublin?”

From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen