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Definition of imam

imam

/ɪˈmɑːm/
i · mam
Plural:imams
•
Adjective:imamic
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imam Lexical Profile

imam Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A religious leader who leads prayers in a mosque and provides spiritual guidance to a Muslim community.

Example

"The local imam delivered a thoughtful sermon on charity during the Friday congregational prayer."

2

A title given to any of the recognized hereditary successors of the Prophet Muhammad, regarded in Shia Islam as divinely appointed and infallible spiritual leaders.

Example

"Historians studied the writings attributed to the early Imams to understand the development of Shia jurisprudence."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for imam

Word Nuance & Usage

In Sunni Islam, an imam is generally the worship leader of a mosque and community, whereas in Shia Islam, the title (often capitalized as Imam) denotes one of the divinely appointed hereditary successors to the Prophet Muhammad.

• Rhymes for imam

• Nearby Words

imaginativeness
imagine
imaging
imam
imbalance
imbalanced
imbe

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic 'imām' meaning 'leader' or 'model', derived from the verb 'amma' meaning 'to go before' or 'to lead the way'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Imam. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/imam
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