Joseph

American  

[joh-zuhf, -suhf] / ˈdʒoʊ zəf, -səf /

noun

1. (in the Bible) Jacob's eleventh son, the first of Jacob and his second wife, Rachel: sold into slavery by his brothers.

2. (in the Bible) the husband of Mary who was the mother of Jesus.

3. Hinmaton-yalaktit, c1840–1904, leader of the Nez Perce: led 1,000-mile (1,600-km) retreat from U.S. forces in an attempt to reach Canada in 1877.

4. joseph, a long coat buttoning in the front, worn especially by women as part of their riding habit in colonial America.

5. a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “increaser.”

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Joseph ¹ British  

/ ˈdʒəʊzɪf /

noun

1. Old Testament

   1. the eleventh son of Jacob and one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel (Genesis 30:2–24)

   2. either or both of two tribes descended from his sons Ephraim and Manasseh

2. New Testament the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:16–25). Feast day: Mar 19

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joseph ² British  

/ ˈdʒəʊzɪf /

noun

1. a woman's floor-length riding coat with a small cape, worn esp in the 18th century

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Etymology

Origin of joseph

perhaps from the story of Joseph and his long coat (Genesis 37:3)

Example Sentences

Santa Maria St. Joseph took an early 3-0 lead and hung on to defeat Los Altos 4-2 for the Silver Bracket title.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

Joseph “JP” Powers, the chief investment officer of RWA Wealth Partners, a Boston-based wealth manager with around $20 billion of assets under management, says opportunities outside the U.S. remain but that pickiness is now essential.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Mark Joseph Stern: Justice Barrett had a lot of skeptical questions for the solicitor general.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

“They know that their customers are not going to stand for” price hikes, said Joseph Yoon, an analyst with Edmunds.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

They had to be extra careful, Baba Joseph said, because it was never certain whether the elephant was going to run away from or toward them.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer