rabbinical

American

[ruh-bin-i-kuhl] / rəˈbɪn ɪ kəl /

Also rabbinic

adjective

of or relating to rabbis rabbi or their learning, writings, etc.
for the rabbinate.

a rabbinical school.

Other Word Forms

nonrabbinical adjective
unrabbinic adjective
unrabbinical adjective

Etymology

Origin of rabbinical

1615–25; < Medieval Latin rabbīn ( us ) of a rabbi ¹ + -ical

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mr. Leiter, who earned orthodox rabbinical ordination, breaks into a homily connecting his son Moshe to the biblical original, Moses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Its work has ranged from training rabbinical students — who went on to preach sermons against polarization — to a multi-faith initiative to address the opioid crisis in West Virginia.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 18, 2023

Though his father was a lawyer, Rabbi David Ellenson was surrounded by rabbis and rabbinical students for much of his life.

From New York Times • Dec. 10, 2023

While Susan was in rabbinical school in New York City, Sarah was getting her start on “Saturday Night Live,” and they’d host a weekly dinner mixing their friend groups of young students and comedians.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2023

Only Joshua took any enjoyment from the rabbinical complexity shrouding his recent papers.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023