# shibboleth

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈʃɪbəlɛθ/ · frequency rank #95,407

## Definitions
1. A particular pronunciation or custom that is regarded as distinguishing members of a group from non-members, especially when used as a test.
2. A common or longstanding belief, custom, or catchphrase associated with a particular group, especially one with little current meaning or truth.

## Etymology
Learned borrowing from Biblical Hebrew שִׁבֹּלֶת /שיבולת (šibbṓleṯ, “ear [of wheat] or stream, torrent”). Doublet of sebboleth and Middle English sebolech, both from Late Latin sebboleth in the Vulgate.

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