often capitalized
1
: the prayer leader of a mosque
2
: a Muslim leader of the line of Ali held by Shiites to be the divinely appointed, sinless, infallible successors of Muhammad
3
: any of various rulers that claim descent from Muhammad and exercise spiritual and temporal leadership over a Muslim region

Examples of imam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The complaint also asks for a permanent injunction ordering the prison to make certain policy changes, including allowing the inmates to observe Ramadan, engage in weekly communal prayer, meet regularly with an imam and access religious items. Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2025 Then the imam took off his ankle-length coat and wrapped it around the father. Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 30 Dec. 2024 None of the prominent imams in the Shia community were at the rally. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2024 Trained as an imam, or prayer leader, Gulen gained notice in Turkey some 50 years ago. Michael Rubinkam, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for imam

Word History

Etymology

Arabic imām

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of imam was in 1613

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Cite this Entry

“Imam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imam. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

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