What does "rastafari" mean?
A Rastafarian.
Rastafari
adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A Rastafarian.
- Grammar: rastafari is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: rasta, rasta faith, rastafari movement, rastafari tradition.
- Useful contrasts: atheist, nonbelief, nonbeliever.
- Usage evidence: At the same time, social, economic, and even political relations remain individualistic and personal rather than communitarian as in the case of the Bobo. Thus most Rastafari are allowed to lead their own lives as members of a religion but without the risk of violating collective discipline. They have a sense of identity but without ritual obligation.
How to use "rastafari"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rastafari" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rastafari" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rastafari" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "rasta" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A Rastafarian.
"At the same time, social, economic, and even political relations remain individualistic and personal rather than communitarian as in the case of the Bobo. Thus most Rastafari are allowed to lead their own lives as members of a religion but without the risk of violating collective discipline. They have a sense of identity but without ritual obligation."
- 2 (Jamaica) a Black youth subculture and religious movement that arose in the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica, in the 1950s; males grow hair in long dreadlocks and wear woolen caps; use marijuana and listen to reggae music wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Rastafarian. not-comparable
"“Are you from Jamaica?” he blurted out. / The Rastafarian stopped and looked at the reporter with soft red eyes. “Who, I? Sí.” / “Are you Rastafari?” Sloman pressed."
Proper Noun
- 1 Rastafarianism.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"At the same time, social, economic, and even political relations remain individualistic and personal rather than communitarian as in the case of the Bobo. Thus most Rastafari are allowed to lead their own lives as members of a religion but without the risk of violating collective discipline. They have a sense of identity but without ritual obligation."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rastafari"?
Common synonyms include: rasta, rasta faith, rastafari movement, rastafari tradition, rastafarian, rastafarianism.
How do you use "rastafari" in a sentence?
At the same time, social, economic, and even political relations remain individualistic and personal rather than communitarian as in the case of the Bobo. Thus most Rastafari are allowed to lead their own lives as members of a religion but without the risk of violating collective discipline. They have a sense of identity but without ritual obligation.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Semitic *raʔš- Amharic ራስ (ras) Amharic ተፈሪ (täfäri) English Rastafari From Amharic ራስ (ras, “Duke”, literally “head”) and ተፈሪ (täfäri, “revered”) from ተፈሪ መኮንን (täfäri mäkonn, “Haile Selassie”, literally “feared (son of) Makonnen”). More at Haile Selassie.