Word
joseph
Phoneticsjoseph
/ˈdʒoʊsəf/
Definitions
01male name
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a common first name for a man.
n. a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, widely used in various forms across many cultures.
“My friend Joseph prefers to be called Joe in casual situations.”
“The registrar noted that Joseph remains one of the most consistently popular names for boys across the century.”
02biblical figure (son of Jacob)
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Religion
n. a famous person in the Bible known for his 'coat of many colors'.
n. the eleventh son of Jacob in the Hebrew Bible, noted for his coat of many colours and his rise to power in Egypt.
“The story of Joseph and his brothers is a famous part of the Old Testament.”
“Scholars often analyze the narrative of Joseph as a bridge between the patriarchal stories and the later exodus of the Israelites.”
03biblical figure (husband of Mary)
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Religion
n. the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
n. the husband of Mary and the legal father of Jesus in the New Testament.
“Many churches are named after Saint Joseph, the carpenter.”
“In Christian tradition, Joseph is venerated as a model of humility and fatherly protection.”
Synonyms
04historical garment
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic
n. a long coat worn by women for horse riding in the 1700s.
n. a woman's long-caped riding habit or greatcoat popular during the 18th century.
“The painting shows a lady in a green joseph riding through the park.”
“The museum's textile collection includes a rare silk joseph, remarkably preserved with its original decorative buttons.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English Ioseph, ultimately from Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵף (Yoséf, literally “(God) shall add”); a son of Jacob. Doublet of Yusuf.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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