# imam

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈiːmɑːm/ · frequency rank #14,967

## Definitions
1. One who leads the salat prayers in a mosque.
2. A Shi'ite Muslim leader descended from the prophet Muhammad and functioning as his spiritual successor.
3. A Shi'ite Muslim leader descended from the prophet Muhammad and functioning as his spiritual successor.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Arabic إِمَام (ʔimām, “leader”).

## Easily confused with
- **IRA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-ira)
- **IMO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-imo)
- **ISA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-isa)
- **IMF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-imf)
- **IPA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-ipa)
- **IMG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-img)
- **IOM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-iom)
- **IME** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-ime)
- **Iran** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-iran)
- **item** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-item)
- **Iraq** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-iraq)
- **iPad** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-ipad)
- **Ivan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-ivan)
- **IMDb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-imdb)
- **Imma** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-imma)
- **IMAX** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-imax)
- **Irma** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-irma)
- **IMHO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-imho)
- **iman** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-iman)
- **Islam** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/imam-vs-islam)

## Common misspellings (4)
`iamm`, `imamm`, `immam`, `miam`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/imam