Absalom

American  

[ab-suh-luhm] / ˈæb sə ləm /

noun

1. (in the Bible) the third and favorite son of David, who rebelled against his father and was slain by Joab.

2. a first name: from a Hebrew word meaning “father of peace.”

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Absalom British  

/ ˈæbsələm /

noun

1. Old Testament the third son of David, who rebelled against his father and was eventually killed by Joab (II Samuel 15–18)

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Example Sentences

Huw Absalom, who is related to the siblings, was 15 when they died.

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2025

In the 1950s and ’60s, a literary-minded cat named Dr. Absalom Minola — writing via his “butler,” future UC Berkeley archivist Jim Kantor — began sending letters to authors, editors and public figures.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 7, 2025

But there wasn’t much talk about abolitionism, or Forten’s old friends, like Absalom Jones, founder of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, or William Lloyd Garrison, editor of The Liberator newspaper.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 13, 2022

Absalom Jordan, a Ward 8 community leader who describes himself as a Bowser supporter, said the mayor, for all of the advances she touts, needs to take additional steps to win over constituents.

From Washington Post • Mar. 7, 2022

And when Ahimaaz reached King David, who yearned to know the fate of his headlong son, Absalom, he could only say: “I saw a great tumult but I knew not what it was.”

From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin