name
Uncommon
Taliban
TA-lih-ban
Taliban (name) means a Deobandi Islamist political and military movement founded in Afghanistan in 1994, which has governed the country intermittently since 1996. Example: “The Taliban took control of Kabul in 1996 and again in 2021.”
name
1
A Deobandi Islamist political and military movement founded in Afghanistan in 1994, which has governed the country intermittently since 1996.
"The Taliban took control of Kabul in 1996 and again in 2021."
noun
1
A member of the Taliban movement or its fighters.
"Several former Taliban now hold positions in the government."
How to use Taliban
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe name of an Afghan political and military movement, or one of its members.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Talibans
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The _____ took control of Kabul in 1996 and again in 2021.
Etymology
From Pashto tālibān, meaning "students," the plural of tālib ("seeker" or "student"), itself from Arabic.
Synonyms
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Taleban
Frequently asked questions
What does “Taliban” mean?
The word “Taliban” means a Deobandi Islamist political and military movement founded in Afghanistan in 1994, which has governed the country intermittently since 1996. In plain terms, the name of an Afghan political and military movement, or one of its members.
How do you pronounce “Taliban”?
“Taliban” is pronounced TA-lih-ban (/ˈtælɪbæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “Taliban” in a sentence?
Here is “Taliban” used in a sentence: “The Taliban took control of Kabul in 1996 and again in 2021.”
What part of speech is “Taliban”?
Depending on how it is used, “Taliban” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Taliban” come from?
The word “Taliban” comes from Arabic. From Pashto tālibān, meaning "students," the plural of tālib ("seeker" or "student"), itself from Arabic.
Is “Taliban” a common word?
“Taliban” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Taliban” have?
“Taliban” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Deobandi Islamist political and military movement founded in Afghanistan in 1994, which has governed the country intermittently since 1996.
What does the word Taliban mean or refer to?
The Taliban is a Deobandi Islamist political and military movement founded in Afghanistan in 1994, which has governed the country intermittently since 1996. The term can also refer to an individual member of the movement or one of its fighters.
Is Taliban a singular or plural word?
Taliban is often treated as a collective noun referring to the movement as a whole, but it can also describe an individual member, as in 'a Taliban fighter.' Usage varies depending on whether the reference is to the group or to a single person.
Is Taliban capitalized?
Yes, Taliban is capitalized because it functions as a proper noun naming a specific political and military movement, similar to the name of a political party or organization.
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