minyan

noun

min·​yan ˈmin-yən How to pronounce minyan (audio)
plural minyanim ˌmin-yə-ˈnēm How to pronounce minyan (audio) or minyans
: the quorum required for Jewish communal worship that consists of ten male adults in Orthodox Judaism and usually ten adults of either sex in Conservative and Reform Judaism

Examples of minyan 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.
Without enough Jews to fulfill a minyan, or Jewish prayer group of 10 men, the building is now a trendy coffee shop. — Jordyn Haime, sun-sentinel.com, 2 Dec. 2021 This little shul, literally risen from the ashes as a symbol of Jewish perseverance, holds a minyan, or quorum, three times a day. — Josh Nass, WSJ, 15 July 2021 His cousin volunteered his home for the week of shiva; a rabbi from Puerto Rico coordinated the minyans. — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026 Reading from the Torah and saying certain prayers, including the kaddish, or mourner’s prayer, must take place in a group with a quorum of 10, known as a minyan. — Religion News Service, oregonlive, 25 Mar. 2022 See All Example Sentences for minyan

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew minyān, literally, number, count

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of minyan was in 1753

Rhymes for minyan

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Browse Nearby Words

Minyadidae
minyan
minyulite
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Cite this Entry

“Minyan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minyan. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about minyan

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