noun
Common
Muslim
MUUZ-lihm
Muslim (noun) means a follower of the religion of Islam. Example: “Muslims around the world observe Ramadan with a month of fasting.”
noun
1
A follower of the religion of Islam.
"Muslims around the world observe Ramadan with a month of fasting."
"“At the end of the day, Jews and Muslims are cousins,” Alhomsi said."
— Brammhi Balarajan, US interfaith communities draw on decades-long bonds to navigate Israel-Hamas War (2023)
adj
1
Relating to Islam or its followers.
"Kaplan-Miller said she first joined the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, an interfaith organization that was founded by a Muslim and a Jewish woman in suburban New Jersey, shortly after the 2016 election."
— Brammhi Balarajan, US interfaith communities draw on decades-long bonds to navigate Israel-Hamas War (2023)
"The city is home to a large Muslim community and several historic mosques."
"The notion of blood purity was first elaborated in Europe, where it was used to separate Old Christians from Spain’s New Christians—women and men of Jewish and Muslim origin whose ancestors had converted to Christianity."
— Irene Silverblatt, Foreword (2009)
How to use Muslim
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person who follows Islam, or something relating to Islam.
When to use it
Always capitalised in English, as with other religious and national identifiers.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- Muslims
- Comparative
- more Muslim
- Superlative
- most Muslim
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ around the world observe Ramadan with a month of fasting.
Etymology
Borrowed from Arabic muslim, meaning "one who submits," from the verb aslama, "he submitted" — referring to submission to God.
Synonyms
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follower of Islam
adherent of Islam
believer in Islam
Islamic believer
Moslem
Islamic
Abdul
asslifter
carpet kisser
children of Ishmael
hajji
Ishmaelite
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “Muslim” mean?
The word “Muslim” means a follower of the religion of Islam. In plain terms, a person who follows Islam, or something relating to Islam.
How do you pronounce “Muslim”?
“Muslim” is pronounced MUUZ-lihm (/ˈmʌz.ləm/ in IPA).
How do you use “Muslim” in a sentence?
Here is “Muslim” used in a sentence: “Muslims around the world observe Ramadan with a month of fasting.”
What is another word for “Muslim”?
Words with a similar meaning to “Muslim” include Abdul, asslifter, carpet kisser, children of Ishmael, hajji and Ishmaelite.
What is the opposite of “Muslim”?
The opposite of “Muslim” — its antonyms — are giaour, non-Muslim and kafir.
What part of speech is “Muslim”?
Depending on how it is used, “Muslim” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Muslim” come from?
The word “Muslim” comes from Arabic. Borrowed from Arabic muslim, meaning "one who submits," from the verb aslama, "he submitted" — referring to submission to God.
Is “Muslim” a common word?
“Muslim” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between Muslim and Islam?
Islam is the religion, a faith centred on belief in one God and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. A Muslim is a person who follows that religion. In short, Islam is the belief system and a Muslim is the believer. Muslim can also work as an adjective, as in Muslim culture.
What is the difference between Muslim and Arab?
The terms describe different things. Muslim refers to religion, anyone who follows Islam. Arab refers to ethnicity and language, people from Arabic-speaking backgrounds. Many Arabs are Muslim, but not all, and most Muslims worldwide are not Arab; the largest Muslim populations are in South and Southeast Asia.
What do Muslims believe?
Muslims believe in one God, called Allah in Arabic, and follow the Quran as sacred scripture and Muhammad as God's final prophet. Core practices include the five daily prayers, giving to charity, fasting during Ramadan, and, if able, a pilgrimage to Mecca. These are known as the five pillars of Islam.
How do you spell and pronounce Muslim?
The preferred spelling is Muslim, pronounced "MUUZ-lim" or "MUSS-lim." An older spelling, Moslem, is now generally avoided. The word is always capitalised, like other names of religious groups, and can refer to a person or act as an adjective describing something relating to Islam.
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