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• minyan
  minyan

  noun

  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.
• Minyan
  Minyan

  adjective

  descended from Minyas.

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

It has been more difficult to reach the required minyan, or quorum, of 10 people in order to recite certain prayers.

From New York Times • Jun. 16, 2023

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

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 2023

Pil makes sure that every day, morning and night, a minyan — a quorum of 10 men necessary for Orthodox Jews to hold certain prayers — is present.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2023

Last week, Kleinbaum led a shiva minyan, the traditional gathering of Jewish mourners after a death, unlike any she has ever seen before.

From Washington Post • Apr. 2, 2020

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

From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz