A leader in Islamic worship and prayer, responsible for leading congregational prayers in a mosque. In some Islamic traditions, the term also refers to important religious and political leaders.
From Arabic إِمَام (imām), meaning 'leader' or 'one who stands in front', derived from the root أ-م-م (ʾ-m-m) related to leading and being in front. The word entered English in the 17th century through contact with Islamic cultures. The Arabic term comes from the verb أَمَّ (amma), meaning 'to lead' or 'to go before', emphasizing the imam's role as one who leads others in prayer.
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