minyan

¹ American  

[meen-yahn, min-yuhn] / minˈyɑn, ˈmɪn yən /

noun

Hebrew.

plural

minyanim,

plural

minyans

1. the number of persons required by Jewish law to be present to conduct a communal religious service, traditionally a minimum of 10 Jewish males over 13 years of age.

2. such a group.

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Minyan ² American  

[min-yuhn] / ˈmɪn yən /

adjective

1. descended from Minyas.

2. being or pertaining to a gray, wheel-thrown pottery produced in ancient Greece during the early part of the Helladic period, c2000 b.c.

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noun

1. Minyans. Also Minyae the descendants of Minyas who inhabited Orchomenus in Boeotia and Iolcus in Thessaly.

minyan British  

/ ˈmɪnjən, minˈjan /

noun

1. the number of persons required by Jewish law to be present for a religious service, namely, at least ten males over thirteen years of age

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Etymology

Origin of minyan

minyān literally, number

Explanation

In Judaism, some prayers require a minyan, or a group of at least ten adults. Wedding blessings and prayers for the dead are among those that need a minyan. A minyan is a religious quorum, the minimum number of people required. In Judaism, many prayers can be said alone, but some of them require the sense of community and connection that comes from a cohesive group of people. Saying Kaddish after a loved one’s death is one example. In Orthodox synagogues, a minyan is composed only of men, but in most Jewish communities women are also included. Minyan has a Hebrew root, maneh, "to count or to number."

Example Sentences

Weiss went to the chapel door but stayed in the room to maintain the minyan.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 2023

But the reliability of that minyan makes the congregation vital beyond its regular members.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2023

Here, encouraged by his grandfather and their new neighbors, David completes the minyan.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2021

When a Jew dies, they want to have a minyan; that means you must have 10 people attend your burial.

From Washington Post • Jul. 1, 2019

“Are there not ten men here who will make a minyan with us?”

From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz