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imam

n.
US //ˈaɪmæm// UK //ɪmˈæm// imam
  1. 1 prayer leader (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Religion

    the person who leads the prayers in a mosque.

    the person who leads congregational worship and prayers (salat) in a mosque.

    Example

    The imam stood at the front of the mosque to lead the Friday prayers.

    Example

    After the afternoon prayer, the imam stayed behind to offer guidance to several members of the local community.
  2. 2 Shi'ite spiritual leader (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Religion

    a title for a great leader in the Shi'ite branch of Islam who is a descendant of Muhammad.

    one of the divinely appointed successors to the Prophet Muhammad in Shi'ite theology, often capitalized as 'Imam'.

    Example

    The history of the Twelve Imams is central to their religious identity.

    Example

    Scholars debated the historical role of the third Imam in shaping the theological foundations of the sect.

    Usage

    Often capitalized when referring to specific historical figures in Shi'ite Islam.

Origin

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

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026