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Definition of bar mitzvah
bar mitzvah
Plural:bar mitzvahs
•Past Simple:bar mitzvahed
•Past Participle:bar mitzvahed
•Present Participle:bar mitzvahing
• noun
1
A Jewish religious initiation ceremony and celebration held for a boy who has reached the age of thirteen, marking his transition to religious adulthood.
Example
"The entire extended family traveled across the country to attend my cousin's bar mitzvah."
2
A Jewish boy who has reached the age of thirteen and is consequently considered a full member of the religious community, responsible for observing the commandments.
Example
"Once he turned thirteen, the young man officially became a bar mitzvah according to Jewish law."
• verb
1
To administer or celebrate the ceremony of a bar mitzvah for a Jewish boy.
Example
"He was bar mitzvahed at the historic neighborhood synagogue last Saturday."
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bar mitzvah. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bar-mitzvah