shofar

American  

[shoh-fer, shaw-fahr, shoh-fuhr, shoh-fahr] / ˈʃoʊ fər, ʃɔˈfɑr, ˈʃoʊ fər, ʃoʊˈfɑr /

Or shophar

noun

Judaism.

• shofars,
  plural
• shofroth,
  plural
• shofrot,
  plural
• shofros
  plural

1. a ram's horn blown as a wind instrument, sounded in Biblical times chiefly to communicate signals in battle and announce certain religious occasions and in modern times chiefly at synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

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shofar British  

/ ˈʃəʊfɑː, ʃɔˈfar /

noun

1. Judaism a ram's horn sounded in the synagogue daily during the month of Elul and repeatedly on Rosh Hashanah, and by the ancient Israelites as a warning, summons, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• shofars
  plural
• shofros
  plural
• shofrot
  plural
• shofroth
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of shofar

First recorded in 1860–65, from Hebrew shōphār “ram's horn”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shofar shofars

Samoan Prime Minister La'auli Leuatea Schmidt wore a Jewish prayer shawl when he was sworn in last year, entering the room to the sound of a ceremonial "shofar" horn.

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026

Many people know that Jews blow the shofar, or ram’s horn, on the holy days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

At one point, a man blew a shofar, the traditional musical horn used in Jewish rituals, to the crowd’s applause.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2025

“It’s perverse … to use the shofar, which is played during religious ceremonies, to announce himself,” said Pablo Gorodneff, secretary-general of the progressive Argentine Jewish Appeal group.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2024

With his philacteries wound around his arm, he should be placed before the Ark and, amidst burning candles and to the accompaniment of shofar blasts, made to recite a lengthy awe-inspiring oath.

From History of the Jews in Russia and Poland. Volume II From the death of Alexander I. until the death of Alexander III. (1825-1894) by I. Friedlaender

Brubeck had brought a few other shofars with him as options, but it was clear from the moment O’Hara, a sophomore trumpet student, started playing that this one had what he was looking for.

From New York Times ● Feb. 24, 2023

Some of the shofars are decked out in patriotic colors.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2022

In the videos, Mastriano performs a ritual act of spiritual warfare — blowing shofars with the Shofar Army and Prophet Bill Yount of Blowing the Shofar Ministries.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2022

When the athlete landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday, the crowd waved flags, sprayed champagne and blew shofars, the traditional Jewish ram’s horn.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 4, 2021

Sound the shofars: Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, began on Sunday evening and ends on Tuesday evening.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2019

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