ayatollah
Ayatollah (noun) means a high-ranking religious leader and scholar in Shia Islam. Example: “The ayatollah issued a religious ruling on the matter.”
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.
Word forms
ayatollahs plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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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