Yom Kippur

noun

Yom Kip·​pur ˌyōm-ki-ˈpu̇r How to pronounce Yom Kippur (audio)
ˌyȯm-, 
ˌyäm- How to pronounce Yom Kippur (audio)
-ˈki-pər, 
-(ˌ)pu̇r
: a Jewish holiday observed with fasting and prayer on the 10th day of Tishri in accordance with the rites described in Leviticus 16

called also Day of Atonement

Examples of Yom Kippur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On Yom Kippur, Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal and Syrian forces poured into the Golan Heights. — Bryce Hoffman, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 None of this comes as news to British Jews, still reeling from an attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur last October, in which two people were killed. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026 The district traditionally gives students the day off for either Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah, two of the most significant holidays in the Jewish faith. — Megan Menchaca, Houston Chronicle, 11 May 2026 Last October, an attacker drove his car into people gathered outside a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur and fatally stabbed one person. — Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Yom Kippur

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew yōm kippūr, literally, day of atonement

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Yom Kippur was in 1735

Rhymes for Yom Kippur

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Browse Nearby Words

yomawood
Yom Kippur
yom tob
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yom Kippur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Yom%20Kippur. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Yom Kippur

noun
Yom Kip·​pur ˌyōm-ki-ˈpu̇r How to pronounce Yom Kippur (audio) ˌyȯm- How to pronounce Yom Kippur (audio)
ˌyäm-, 
-ˈkip-ər
: a Jewish holiday observed in September or October with fasting and prayer as ways of making up for sins

More from Merriam-Webster on Yom Kippur

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Yom Kippur

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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