Rastafarian

American  

[ras-tuh-fair-ee-uhn, -fahr-, rah-stuh-] / ˌræs təˈfɛər i ən, -ˈfɑr-, ˌrɑ stə- /

noun

1. a follower of Rastafarianism.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Rastafarianism or Rastafarians.

Rastafarian British  

/ ˌræstəˈfɛərɪən /

noun

1. a member of an originally Jamaican religion that regards Ras Tafari (the former emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie) as God

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adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to the Rastafarians

Etymology

Origin of Rastafarian

First recorded in 1935; from Amharic ras täfäri “Prince Tafari,” the pre-coronation name of Haile Selassie ( ras “prince,” originally, “head”; täfäri an Amharic personal name, literally, “(one to be) feared, respected,” present participle from passive stem of the verb färra “fear, respect”) + -an

Example Sentences

Damon Landor is a Rastafarian who followed a vow, based in the Old Testament book of Numbers, not to cut his hair.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

Other winners included poet Safiya Sinclair, who took the autobiography prize for her acclaimed memoir “How to Say Babylon,” about her Jamaican childhood and strict Rastafarian upbringing.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 21, 2024

A coastal province where the majority of pineapple plantations in the country are located, Limón is known for its Rastafarian culture, wildlife sanctuaries and late fall carnival celebrations.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2024

The U.S., with its rugged individualism and hard-edged capitalism, outwardly bore little resemblance to her homeland of dreadlocked Rastafarian visionaries and righteous reggae singers.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 21, 2023

Everyone looks to Kalinda, to see if she has heard Anise’s story about this Rastafarian, and what she will do about it if she has.

From "Hurricane Child" by Kheryn Callender