name Common

Hamas

huh-MAS

Hamas (name) means a Palestinian Islamist political and militant organization that controls the Gaza Strip. Example: “Hamas won a majority in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections.”

name

A Palestinian Islamist political and militant organization that controls the Gaza Strip.

"Hamas won a majority in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections."

How to use Hamas

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe name of a Palestinian political and military organization.

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_____ won a majority in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections.

Etymology

An Arabic acronym for "Islamic Resistance Movement," which also spells out a word meaning "zeal" or "enthusiasm."

Origin: Arabic

Rhymes for Hamas

Bahamas pajamas pyjamas

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Hamas” mean?

The word “Hamas” means a Palestinian Islamist political and militant organization that controls the Gaza Strip. In plain terms, the name of a Palestinian political and military organization.

How do you pronounce “Hamas”?

“Hamas” is pronounced huh-MAS (/həˈmɑs/ in IPA).

How do you use “Hamas” in a sentence?

Here is “Hamas” used in a sentence: “Hamas won a majority in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections.”

What part of speech is “Hamas”?

“Hamas” is a name.

Where does the word “Hamas” come from?

The word “Hamas” comes from Arabic. An Arabic acronym for "Islamic Resistance Movement," which also spells out a word meaning "zeal" or "enthusiasm.".

Is “Hamas” a common word?

“Hamas” is a fairly common word in modern English.

What territory does Hamas control?

Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist political and militant organization that controls the Gaza Strip. Its control of Gaza is the defining fact most commonly associated with the organization.

Is Hamas a political party or a militant group?

Hamas is both: it functions as a political organization while also maintaining a militant wing, making it a combined political and militant movement rather than purely one or the other.

Is Hamas the same across all Palestinian territories?

No, Hamas specifically controls the Gaza Strip; its authority and role are tied to that territory rather than extending uniformly across all Palestinian areas.

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Vocabulary lists that include Hamas:

Words with Arabic origins Words that start with H