herem: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very Rare / SpecializedFormal, Academic, Religious/Historical
Quick answer
What does “herem” mean?
A religious ban or practice of total devotion/devotion to destruction, particularly in ancient Hebrew context (also spelled 'cherem').
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A religious ban or practice of total devotion/devotion to destruction, particularly in ancient Hebrew context (also spelled 'cherem').
In Judaism: the practice of devoting something (possessions, cities, enemies) to God, often involving complete destruction; can refer to excommunication or shunning in later Jewish practice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional differences; term is equally rare in both variants and confined to specialized religious/academic discourse.
Connotations
Scholarly, theological, historical. Carries heavy moral/ethical weight due to association with destruction and divine command.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency outside specific contexts (biblical studies, Jewish law, ancient Near Eastern history).
Grammar
How to Use “herem” in a Sentence
[institution] placed [city] under herem[authority] declared herem on [person/group]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “herem” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ancient texts describe how kings would herem conquered cities.
- To herem something was to set it apart for divine purpose.
American English
- The commander decided to herem the spoils of war.
- Practices to herem entire populations are discussed in historical sources.
adverb
British English
- The city was destroyed heremly, according to the commandment.
- They acted heremly in accordance with tradition.
American English
- The goods were treated heremly, dedicated completely.
- It was done heremly, leaving no survivors.
adjective
British English
- The herem status of the object made it untouchable.
- They followed the herem regulations strictly.
American English
- A herem prohibition was placed on the goods.
- The herem practice was controversial even in ancient times.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used
Academic
Used in theology, biblical archaeology, and history of religion to describe ancient Near Eastern practices.
Everyday
Not used
Technical
Used in Jewish law (Halakha) to refer to excommunication or property dedication.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “herem”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “herem”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “herem”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'ban' in modern contexts
- Misspelling as 'hereme' or 'herem'
- Confusing it with 'harem' (phonetically similar but unrelated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively a technical term in biblical studies, theology, and Jewish law.
They are variant transliterations of the same Hebrew word (חֵרֶם). 'Cherem' represents the Hebrew consonant 'chet' (ח) more accurately for some transliteration systems.
In specifically Jewish religious contexts, it can refer to rabbinic excommunication, but this usage is historical/technical, not general modern English.
No, they are completely unrelated etymologically. 'Harem' comes from Arabic 'ḥarīm' (forbidden place), while 'herem' is from Hebrew 'ḥērem' (devoted thing).
A religious ban or practice of total devotion/devotion to destruction, particularly in ancient Hebrew context (also spelled 'cherem').
Herem is usually formal, academic, religious/historical in register.
Herem: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɛrɛm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɛrɛm/ or /xɛˈrɛm/ for the 'cherem' variant. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common use”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HERE + M → 'Here am' I, devoted to destruction (mnemonic for its meaning of total dedication/devotion).
Conceptual Metaphor
SACRIFICE IS DESTRUCTION / PURITY IS SEPARATION
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'herem' most appropriately be used?