# rosary

/ˈɹoʊzɝi/ (US) · /ɹˈəʊzəɹˌi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

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

## Definition

a string of beads used by some Christians, especially Catholics, to count their prayers. It can also refer to the set of prayers themselves.

For teachers: a string of knotted beads used in various religious traditions, particularly Roman Catholicism, to keep count of a sequence of prayers. Also refers to the specific cycle of prayers recited while using these beads.

## Examples

- She held her rosary while she prayed in the quiet church.
- The grandmother sat by the window every evening, slowly moving her fingers along the beads of her wooden rosary.
- The museum's collection includes an ornate 16th-century rosary carved from ivory, illustrating the historical intersection of personal devotion and high craftsmanship in religious art.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the verb 'to pray' or 'to recite'.

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