Meaning of “shibboleth” in the English Dictionary

English

"shibboleth" in English

See all translations

shibbolethnoun [ C ]

uk ​ /ˈʃɪb.əl.eθ/ us ​ /ˈʃɪb.əl.eθ/

› formal a belief or custom that is not now considered as important and correct as it was in the past:

They still cling to many of the old shibboleths of education.

› a word, phrase, custom, etc., only known to a particular group of people, that you can use to prove to them that you are a real member of that group

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

(Definition of “shibboleth” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of “shibboleth”
 
Need a translator?

Translator tool

Get a quick, free translation!

What is the pronunciation of shibboleth?
Browse