Meaning & use
imam
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Meanings
nouncountable
A Muslim religious leader, especially one who leads prayers in a mosque.
Grammar: Countable: one imam, two imams. Often used with 'the' when referring to a specific leader.
Patterns
- the imam of a mosque
- lead prayers as an imam
- an imam leads
The imam led the Friday prayers.
He was appointed as the imam of the local mosque.
The imam gave a sermon about kindness.
nouncountablereligion
In some branches of Islam, a recognized spiritual leader or authority.
Grammar: Countable; often capitalized in this sense, e.g., 'the Imam'.
Patterns
- a revered imam
- the teachings of the imam
In Shia Islam, the imam is a central spiritual figure.
Many followers seek guidance from their imam.
The imam's interpretation of the text is widely respected.
Word forms
| plural | imams |
|---|
Common combinations
- the imam of the mosque
- The imam of the mosque welcomed the visitors.
- lead prayers as an imam
- He leads prayers as an imam every Friday.
- a respected imam
- She spoke with a respected imam about the community.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cleric
- A general term for a religious leader; 'imam' is specific to Islam.
- religious leader
- A broad phrase; 'imam' is the precise term for a Muslim prayer leader.
Commonly confused: imam or Iman?
imam vs Iman
Iman is a female name or the Arabic word for faith; an imam is a religious leader.
Practice
An imam is most commonly ____.
Choose one answer.
'Imam' refers to a Muslim religious leader, especially one who leads prayers. The other options are leaders of different religions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “imam”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.