noun
Uncommon
sheik
shayk
Sheik (noun) means a leader of an Arab family, village, or tribe. Example: “The local sheik mediated the dispute between the two families.”
noun
1
A leader of an Arab family, village, or tribe.
"The local sheik mediated the dispute between the two families."
"Tarzan, who, by this time, with the assistance of Abdul, had picked up quite a smattering of Arab, questioned one of the younger men who had accompanied the sheik while the latter paid his respects to Captain Gerard."
— , Numa ‘El Adrea’ (1913)
2
A Muslim religious leader or scholar, especially in Sufism.
"Pilgrims sought the sheik's guidance before the journey."
How to use sheik
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA respected leader or elder in Arab or Islamic communities, whether tribal, religious, or civic.
UK vs US
Also commonly spelled "sheikh" — both spellings are widely accepted.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sheik.
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
- sheiks
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The local _____ mediated the dispute between the two families.
Etymology
From Arabic šayḵ, meaning "elder." The now-dated "romantic lover" sense in English comes from the 1921 Hollywood film The Sheik.
Class of 1921
sheik joined the language around 1921.
See the full Class of 1921 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “sheik” mean?
The word “sheik” means a leader of an Arab family, village, or tribe. In plain terms, a respected leader or elder in Arab or Islamic communities, whether tribal, religious, or civic.
How do you pronounce “sheik”?
“Sheik” is pronounced shayk (/ʃeɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “sheik” in a sentence?
Here is “sheik” used in a sentence: “The local sheik mediated the dispute between the two families.”
What part of speech is “sheik”?
“Sheik” is a noun.
Where does the word “sheik” come from?
The word “sheik” dates back to around 1921 and comes from Arabic. From Arabic šayḵ, meaning "elder." The now-dated "romantic lover" sense in English comes from the 1921 Hollywood film The Sheik.
Is “sheik” a common word?
“Sheik” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sheik” have?
“Sheik” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a leader of an Arab family, village, or tribe.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include sheik:
