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noun Uncommon

Islamist

IHS-luh-mihst
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Islamist (noun) means someone who supports applying Islamic religious principles to law and government, often in a strict or political way. Example: “The election saw several Islamist parties gain seats in parliament.”

noun
1
Someone who supports applying Islamic religious principles to law and government, often in a strict or political way.
"The election saw several Islamist parties gain seats in parliament."
adj
1
Relating to political movements that seek to base government and society on Islamic law.
"An Islamist group claimed responsibility for organising the protest."

How to use Islamist

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA political term for someone or something pushing Islamic religious law into government and public life — distinct from "Muslim," which just means a follower of the faith.

Common mistake

Don't use "Islamist" and "Muslim" interchangeably — Islamist refers to a political stance, not simply religious belief.

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Word forms

Plural
Islamists
Comparative
more Islamist
Superlative
most Islamist
Test yourself on “Islamist” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The election saw several _____ parties gain seats in parliament.

Etymology

From Islam plus the suffix -ist, used since the late 20th century for political movements built around Islamic law.

· First attested 1900

Class of 1900 Islamist joined the language around 1900.
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Synonyms

View more →
Mohammedan Muslimist Muslimistic

Related words

Muslim mohammedan muslimist

Frequently asked questions

What does “Islamist” mean?
The word “Islamist” means someone who supports applying Islamic religious principles to law and government, often in a strict or political way. In plain terms, a political term for someone or something pushing Islamic religious law into government and public life — distinct from "Muslim," which just means a follower of the faith.
How do you pronounce “Islamist”?
“Islamist” is pronounced IHS-luh-mihst (/ˈɪsləmɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “Islamist” in a sentence?
Here is “Islamist” used in a sentence: “The election saw several Islamist parties gain seats in parliament.”
What is another word for “Islamist”?
Words with a similar meaning to “Islamist” include Mohammedan, Muslimist and Muslimistic.
What part of speech is “Islamist”?
Depending on how it is used, “Islamist” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Islamist” come from?
The word “Islamist” dates back to around 1900. From Islam plus the suffix -ist, used since the late 20th century for political movements built around Islamic law.
Is “Islamist” a common word?
“Islamist” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Islamist” have?
“Islamist” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone who supports applying Islamic religious principles to law and government, often in a strict or political way.

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