Yom Kippur

noun

Yom Kip·​pur ˌyōm-ki-ˈpu̇r 

ˌyȯm-,

ˌyäm- 

-ˈki-pər,

-(ˌ)pu̇r

: a Jewish holiday observed with fasting and prayer on the 10th day of Tishri in accordance with the rites described in Leviticus 16

called also Day of Atonement

Examples of Yom Kippur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The demilitarized zone was created under a 1974 ceasefire between the two countries following the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, commonly referred to by Israelis as the Yom Kippur War. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

The agreement on disengagement between Israel and Syria, which concluded the Yom Kippur War, established the buffer zone. —Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024

Israeli forces last crossed onto Syrian territory during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when Israel repelled Syrian forces from the Golan Heights. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024

Hours after rebels took the Syrian capital, however, Israel moved into a demilitarized buffer zone with Syria that had been maintained without violation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. —Scott Neuman, NPR, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew yōm kippūr, literally, day of atonement

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Yom Kippur

noun

Yom Kip·​pur ˌyōm-ki-ˈpu̇r  ˌyȯm- 

ˌyäm-,

-ˈkip-ər

: a Jewish holiday observed in September or October with fasting and prayer as ways of making up for sins