noun
ayatollah
eye-uh-TOHL-uh
Ayatollah (noun) means a high-ranking religious leader and scholar in Shia Islam. Example: “The ayatollah issued a religious ruling on the matter.”
noun
1
A high-ranking religious leader and scholar in Shia Islam.
""It could also pave the way for the Iranian people to seize this unique opportunity and shape their own future," Falk clarified. “I doubt the Iranian people want to replace one ayatollah with another ayatollah.”"
— Zvika Klein, Netanyahu adviser to 'Post': Best way to remove ayatollah threat is to remove ayatollahs (2026)
"The ayatollah issued a religious ruling on the matter."
2
Informally, anyone regarded as a rigid or authoritative expert on a subject.
"He acted like the ayatollah of office grammar, correcting everyone's emails."
How to use ayatollah
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA senior Shia Muslim religious scholar — used in English also as a jokey label for someone who acts like a strict authority.
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Word forms
- Plural
- ayatollahs
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The _____ issued a religious ruling on the matter.
Etymology
From Persian, ultimately from Arabic ayatu llahi, meaning "sign of God".
Rhymes for ayatollah
See all rhymes for ayatollah →Frequently asked questions
What does “ayatollah” mean?
The word “ayatollah” means a high-ranking religious leader and scholar in Shia Islam. In plain terms, a senior Shia Muslim religious scholar — used in English also as a jokey label for someone who acts like a strict authority.
How do you pronounce “ayatollah”?
“Ayatollah” is pronounced eye-uh-TOHL-uh (/aɪ.əˈtoʊl.ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “ayatollah” in a sentence?
Here is “ayatollah” used in a sentence: “The ayatollah issued a religious ruling on the matter.”
What part of speech is “ayatollah”?
“Ayatollah” is a noun.
Where does the word “ayatollah” come from?
The word “ayatollah” comes from Arabic. From Persian, ultimately from Arabic ayatu llahi, meaning "sign of God".
How many meanings does “ayatollah” have?
“Ayatollah” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a high-ranking religious leader and scholar in Shia Islam.
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