Day of Atonement

noun Judaism.

Yom Kippur.

Origin of Day of Atonement

First recorded in 1810–20

British Dictionary definitions for day of atonement

Day of Atonement

noun

another name for Yom Kippur

Cultural definitions for day of atonement

Day of Atonement

An annual day of fasting and prayer among the Israelites, still observed by their descendants, the present-day Jews (see also Jews). It occurs in autumn, and its observance is one of the requirements of the Mosaic law. Jews call this day Yom Kippur.