Meanings
- Rastafarianism.
Synonyms: Rasta
plural Rastafaris
- A Rastafarian.
3 more examples
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.
1994, Barry Chevannes, Rastafari: Roots and Ideology, Syracuse University Press, →ISBN, page 190Over time, the Bible has been altered from its original state. For political and economic reasons, things have been edited out, especially in the case of the King James I version of the Bible (Nicholas 1979). Therefore many Rastafari are particularly selective about what they believe in the scriptures.
2018, Michael Barnett, The Rastafari Movement: A North American and Caribbean Perspective, Routledge, →ISBNRepatriation is viewed as a must for Rastafari, and the earliest Rastafari did not have the resources to make this return possible or, as anthropologist Charles Price details, “sold all they possessed in order to leave for Africa” (2009, 218). Price has spoken of the shift in class among Rastafari; though many Rastafari are still economically deprived, there do exist “monied Rastafari” (ibid.).
2020, Erin C. MacLeod, “Rastafari Citizenship Strategies in Ethiopia: Ethnic Existence, Diaspora Claims, Resident Identification”, in Ian O. Boxill, editor, Ideaz, volume 15 (A 2020 Vision Perspective on the Rastafari Movement: Revisiting the Field & Taking Steps Forward), Kingston: Arawak Publications, →ISBN, →ISSN, page 167
- not comparableRastafarian.
Ras Sam Brown, for example, explains why he is Rastafari by situating himself as a link between the past and present: […]
2009, Charles Price, “Encounters”, in Becoming Rasta: Origins of Rastafari Identity in Jamaica, New York, N.Y.: New York University Press, →ISBN, page 1452 more examples
“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.
1979, Larry Sloman, “Overture”, in Reefer Madness: The History of Marijuana in America, Indianapolis, Ind.: Bobbs-Merrill Company, →ISBN, page 15All that was behind him, he said, for he had become Rastafari and all he wanted to do was to learn black history and spread love and feelings to everybody.
1991, David Dabydeen, chapter II, in The Intended, London: Minerva, published 1992, →ISBN, page 87
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounRastafarianism.
More synonyms by meaning
noun(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
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Semitic*raʔš-
- Amharicራስ (ras)
- Amharicተፈሪ (täfäri)
- EnglishRastafari
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.
More words from Amharic
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
Rastafari. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rastafari
“Rastafari.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rastafari. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Rastafari,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Rastafari.
Source: Rastafari on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.