hijab

American  

[hi-jahb, -jab] / hɪˈdʒɑb, -ˈdʒæb /

noun

1. a traditional scarf worn by Muslim women to cover the hair and neck and sometimes the face.

2. the traditional dress code of Muslim women, calling for the covering of the entire body except the face, hands, and feet.

   to observe the hijab.

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hijab British  

/ hɪˈdʒæb, hɛˈdʒɑːb /

noun

1. a covering for the head and face, worn by Muslim women

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Etymology

Origin of hijab

First recorded in 1885–90; from Arabic ḥijāb “veil, cover, curtain,” from ḥajaba “to cover”

Explanation

A hijab is a head covering scarf that some Muslim women wear in public. For many such women, the hijab signifies both modesty and privacy. In some cases, the hijab is worn by a woman when she's with men who aren't in her own family. For other Muslims, it's equally important to wear a hijab in the presence of non-Muslims, including women. Still other practicing Muslims choose not to wear a hijab at all. The word hijab is Persian, from the Arabic ḥajaba, or "veil."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hijab

Soon the hijab is made mandatory for every woman and girl from the age of 9, and Nafisi finds herself forced to comply.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

And, in 2022, the one of the biggest challenges to the Islamic revolution followed the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was accused of failing to wear her hijab properly.

From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2026

Influenced by Christianity, Judaism and other belief systems, Alawites celebrate Christmas, have no dietary restrictions and don’t require women to wear hijab, or head coverings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026

Shortly after Israel's recognition at the end of December, social media was flooded with photos of men and women displaying the Israeli flag -- one of them even using it as a hijab.

From Barron's ● Feb. 22, 2026

I see a girl in jeans and hijab waving madly at me.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan