noun
mullah
MUU-luh
noun
1
A Muslim religious scholar or cleric, especially one trained in Islamic law.
"The local mullah led prayers at the mosque."
"He studied for years to become a mullah."
How to Use Mullah
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Muslim cleric or religious teacher, roughly similar in role to a priest or rabbi in other faiths.
When to use it
In Western news media the word is sometimes used loosely or with negative connotations for conservative Islamic leaders — be aware of the context.
Word Forms
mullahs plural
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The local _____ led prayers at the mosque.
Etymology
From Persian mullā, borrowed from Arabic mawlan, meaning something like "guardian" or "master."