# rabbi

/ˈɹæˌbaɪ/ (US) · /ɹˈæbaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rabbi
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. religious leader

noun · CEFR B2

a person who is a leader or teacher in the Jewish religion.

For teachers: a Jewish scholar or teacher of Jewish law, or a person qualified to lead a Jewish congregation.

- The rabbi spoke to the congregation about the importance of kindness.
- After years of rigorous study in the seminary, he was finally ordained as a rabbi and took over the local synagogue.

### 2. professional mentor

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · American English

a senior person in an organisation, like the police, who helps and protects a younger worker.

For teachers: a senior officer or official who acts as a mentor and protector to a subordinate, particularly within the NYPD or similar bureaucracies.

- The young detective was lucky to have a powerful rabbi at headquarters.
- Without a rabbi in the upper echelons of the department, his chances of a promotion to sergeant were slim despite his excellent record.

Usage: Commonly used in the context of law enforcement or political hierarchies.

## Examples

- The rabbi gave a moving speech at the wedding.
- After the morning service, the rabbi stayed to answer questions about the weekly Torah portion.
- The local rabbi worked closely with other religious leaders in the city to promote interfaith dialogue and community support programs during the winter months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.