Seder

American  

[sey-der] / ˈseɪ dər /

noun

Judaism.

Seders, plural Sedarim plural

1. a ceremonial dinner that commemorates the Exodus from Egypt and includes the reading of the Haggadah and the eating of symbolic foods, generally held on the first night of Passover by Reform Jews and Jews in Israel and on both the first and second nights by Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside of Israel.

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Seder British  

/ ˈseɪdə /

noun

1. Judaism a ceremonial meal with prescribed ritual reading of the Haggadah observed in Jewish homes on the first night or first two nights of Passover

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• Seders
  plural
• Sedarim
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Seder

First recorded in 1860–65, Seder is from the Hebrew word sēdher literally, order, arrangement

Example Sentences

Once, during a Passover Seder, Aft introduced me to his congregation as the Prophet Elijah.

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2026

Dan leads the Seder in such a brusque way that his wife reflects, “on this night my husband is a control freak. That’s how he celebrates freedom from slavery.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Sounding in despair, he also reflected on how Passover was approaching with the traditional Seder meal.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2025

Blue tarps and blankets were put down in the middle of the lawn for Islamic prayers and a Passover Seder and a Shabbat service.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2024

It was certainly better than Grandpa Will’s deadly dull Seder lessons.

From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen