Purim

American  

[poor-im, poo-reem, poor-im] / ˈpʊər ɪm, puˈrim, ˈpʊər ɪm /

noun

1. a Jewish festival celebrated on the 14th day of the month of Adar in commemoration of the deliverance of the Jews in Persia from destruction by Haman.

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Purim British  

/ ˈpʊərɪm, puːˈriːm /

noun

1. a Jewish holiday celebrated on Adar 14, in February or March, and in Adar Sheni in leap years, to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from the massacre planned for them by Haman (Esther 9)

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Purim Cultural  

1. A Jewish festival celebrated each spring before Passover (see also Passover). It commemorates the deliverance of the Jews (see also Jews) from wholesale slaughter by Haman. (See Esther.)

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Usage

What is Purim? Purim is a Jewish holiday in celebration of the deliverance of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from a massacre planned by Haman, a powerful Persian official. The story of Purim revolves around Esther, the Jewish wife of Persian King Ahasuerus, and her pleas to the king to save the Jewish people. Jews often observe Purim with religious services that include readings from the Book of Esther. It is traditional during such readings to make noise to drown out Haman’s name when it is spoken. Festive traditions include special meals and dressing up in costume. Small cakes known as hamantaschen are popular Purim treats. Purim comes before Passover, a major Jewish holiday.

Etymology

Origin of Purim

< Hebrew pūrīm, plural of pūr lot

Example Sentences

The universal message of Purim is prayer for the protective hand of God when confronted with evil, and the importance of men and women willing to take up arms to confront that evil.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Chekroun, a French-Israeli, was among a group of friends visiting Tel Aviv for the Jewish holiday of Purim when they got stranded as the conflict shut down flights.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

Videos circulated of Israelis in bomb shelters chanting the biblical account of the Purim story.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Briefly, the Purim holiday tells the story of Haman, advisor to the Persian king, who plots to kill all the Jews in the Empire.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2025

Last year, just before Purim, Anya’s life had turned sideways when Papa had been conscripted and sent to Rûm.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack