adj
Common
Islamic
ihs-LAH-mihk
Islamic (adj) means relating to or characteristic of Islam, its followers, or its culture. Example: “The museum has a large collection of Islamic art and calligraphy.”
adj
1
Relating to or characteristic of Islam, its followers, or its culture.
"The museum has a large collection of Islamic art and calligraphy."
"They studied Islamic history at university."
How to use Islamic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe adjective form of Islam — describing anything connected to the religion or its culture.
Common mistake
Use "Islamic" for the religion/culture and "Muslim" for a person who follows the faith; don't use "Islamic" to describe a person.
Common pairings
Islamic art
Islamic law
Islamic calendar
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Islamic.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Islamics
- Comparative
- more Islamic
- Superlative
- most Islamic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum has a large collection of _____ art and calligraphy.
Etymology
From Islam plus the adjective-forming suffix -ic.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for Islamic
See all rhymes for Islamic →Frequently asked questions
What does “Islamic” mean?
The word “Islamic” means relating to or characteristic of Islam, its followers, or its culture. In plain terms, the adjective form of Islam — describing anything connected to the religion or its culture.
How do you pronounce “Islamic”?
“Islamic” is pronounced ihs-LAH-mihk (/ɪsˈlɑːmɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Islamic” in a sentence?
Here is “Islamic” used in a sentence: “The museum has a large collection of Islamic art and calligraphy.”
What part of speech is “Islamic”?
“Islamic” is an adjective.
Is “Islamic” a common word?
“Islamic” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between Islamic and Muslim?
Islamic describes things connected to the religion of Islam — Islamic art, Islamic law, Islamic history. Muslim describes a person who follows Islam, or communities of such people — a Muslim family, a Muslim country. In short, 'Islamic' relates to the faith and its culture, while 'Muslim' relates to its followers.
What is the difference between Islamic and Islamist?
The two are very different. Islamic simply relates to the religion of Islam and its wide culture. Islamist refers specifically to political ideologies that seek to organise government and society around Islamic law. Most things described as Islamic — art, festivals, scholarship — have nothing to do with politics, so the words should not be treated as interchangeable.
Does Islamic mean the same as Arabic?
No. Islamic relates to a religion, while Arabic relates to a language and to the Arab peoples and culture. The two overlap because Islam began in Arabia and its scripture is in Arabic, but most Muslims worldwide are not Arab — the largest Muslim populations are in South and Southeast Asia.
What is an example of something Islamic?
Islamic can describe a wide range of things linked to the faith and its culture: Islamic art and geometric design, Islamic architecture such as mosques, Islamic law known as sharia, the Islamic calendar, and Islamic scholarship. In each case the word signals a connection to the religion of Islam and its traditions.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Islamic:
