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

Noun Inflected Forms

• Sedarim
  plural
• Seders
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Seder

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Seder Sedarim Seders

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

He shared a photo of his Seder table to social media on Saturday evening with the message "Happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach!"

From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2025

Nearby, preparations were well under way for a symbolic Passover Seder, or ritual feast.

From BBC ● Apr. 11, 2025

In another area, Jewish students set up long tables for a Passover Seder that featured photos of hostages who are believed to still remain in Gaza after the Oct.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2024

“It’s all part of the game. And the game is to uncover the hidden order of the universe. Seder means ‘order.’

From "The Devil's Arithmetic" by Jane Yolen

This is not my original thought but I do love it and share it at all the Sedarim I attend or make.

From New York Times ● Mar. 20, 2018

Passover traditions change and evolve — no two Seders are the same, which makes them so special.

From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2023

Before Rabbi Julie Schonfeld’s Passover Seders this year, she’ll do all her usual rituals.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 14, 2022

In Ukraine, Chabad plans 52 public Seders welcoming about 9,000 people.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 12, 2022

And Aunt Beth’s matzoh balls, those perfect sinkers, are part of a picture I revisit in my head when I think fondly of Seders of yore.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 9, 2022

Mr. Twitty follows the tradition of holding two Seders at the beginning of Passover, both of which feature his African American Seder plate and the traditional Seder plate.

From New York Times ● Apr. 5, 2022