prayer beads

plural noun

ˈprer- How to pronounce prayer beads (audio)
: a string of beads by which prayers are counted
specifically : rosary

Examples of prayer beads 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.
Stuart found her mother-in-law’s ashes, and the delicate white box that held her late husband’s prayer beads. — Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 2 Feb. 2024 As people leave the building, musicians strike up a raucous tune with a heavy beat and high notes, while others twirl prayer beads over their heads. — Ben Wedeman, CNN, 24 June 2024 The multimedia piece is made with elements of old artifacts like leather, carpet, prayer beads and a ring. — Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026 The show mocks the tech executive who brandishes his Buddhist prayer beads and engages in animal cruelty. — Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prayer beads

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prayer beads was in 1630

Rhymes for prayer beads

See All Rhymes for prayer beads

Browse Nearby Words

prayer bead
prayer beads
prayer bones
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prayer beads.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prayer%20beads. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All