ENGLISH
REFERENCE

imam

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈaɪmæm// UK //ɪmˈæm// imam

n. a person who leads prayers in a mosque. This person is often a respected leader in the local Muslim community.

n. the person who leads communal prayers in a mosque; also used as a title for a recognized religious leader within Islamic communities.


SIMPLE

The imam led the Friday prayers at the mosque.

CONTEXTUAL

After the service, the imam stayed to offer guidance to several families in the community.

COMPLEX

The local imam was invited to the interfaith council to share his perspective on social justice and community cohesion within the city.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Arabic إِمَام (ʔimām, “leader”).

Usage

When used as a title before a specific name, it is typically capitalised.

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