noun
sultan
SUHL-tuhn
noun
1
A ruler of a Muslim state or empire, especially historically in places like the Ottoman Empire or Brunei.
"The sultan's palace overlooked the harbour."
"Brunei is still ruled today by a sultan."
How to Use Sultan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA monarch or ruler of certain Muslim countries or historical empires.
Common pairings
the sultan of Brunei
the sultan's palace
Word Forms
sultans plural, salateen plural
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Etymology
From Arabic sultan, meaning "strength" or "authority," borrowed into English via Ottoman Turkish and Medieval Latin.