kosher

American  

[koh-sher] / ˈkoʊ ʃər /

adjective

1. Judaism.

   1. fit or allowed to be eaten or used, according to the dietary or ceremonial laws.

      kosher meat; kosher dishes; a kosher Torah scroll.

   2. adhering to the laws governing such fitness.

      a kosher restaurant.

2. Informal.

   1. proper; legitimate.

   2. genuine; authentic.

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noun

1. kosher food.

   Where can I eat kosher in Mexico City?

verb (used with object)

1. to make kosher.

   to kosher meat by salting.

idioms

1. keep kosher, to adhere to the dietary laws of Judaism.

kosher British  

/ ˈkəʊʃə /

adjective

1. Judaism conforming to religious law; fit for use: esp, (of food) prepared in accordance with the dietary laws See also kasher kashruth

2. informal

   1. genuine or authentic

   2. legitimate or proper

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kosher ¹ Cultural  

1. Food that is permitted according to a set of dietary restrictions found in the Old Testament. For many Jews (see also Jews), foods that are not kosher cannot be eaten. The term can also be used colloquially to mean anything acceptable: “I don't think it's kosher to yell at your chess opponent when he is thinking about his next move.”

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kosher ² Cultural  

1. The descriptive term in Judaism for food and other objects that are clean according to its laws. These laws are contained in the Torah and forbid, for example, the eating of pork or shellfish, the mixing of dairy products and meat, and certain methods of slaughtering animals.

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Other Word Forms

• nonkosher adjective
• unkosher adjective

Etymology

Origin of kosher

First recorded in 1850–55 kosher for def. 1; 1885–90 kosher for def. 3; 1895–1900 kosher for def. 2; from Yiddish, from Ashkenazi pronunciation of Hebrew kāshēr “right, fit”

Example Sentences

“It gives them a sense of maturity,” said Isaac Bernstein, culinary director of kosher restaurant group Reserve Cut Hospitality, where $30 crispy rice tuna squares are frequently sold to young diners.

From The Wall Street Journal

Aged 82, she had lived in Australia for decades and was honoured in 2022 for delivering kosher meals on wheels for decades, the group said.

From Barron's

Many Jews in Sydney are around Bondi Beach, where there are Jewish eateries, a kosher grocery store and several synagogues.

From The Wall Street Journal

Joe Jurgielewicz & Son raises and sells a range of duck products, including kosher and halal options, and everything they produce is excellent.

From Salon

They became close and Munger arranged for kosher food to be delivered to his home so they could dine together.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• genuine
• real
• true
• unadulterated