noun
imam
EE-mahm
noun
1
A person who leads prayers in a mosque.
"The imam delivered the Friday sermon to a packed mosque."
2
In Shia Islam, a religious leader regarded as a spiritual successor to the Prophet Muhammad.
"Shia Muslims recognize a line of twelve imams descended from Muhammad."
How to Use Imam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Muslim worship leader, or, in Shia Islam, a recognized spiritual successor of Muhammad.
Word Forms
imams plural, Imams plural
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Etymology
From Arabic imam, meaning "leader."