halal

American  

[huh-lahl] / həˈlɑl /

adjective

1. 1. relating to or noting meat prepared or animals slaughtered in the manner prescribed by Islamic law.

      a halal butcher.

   2. (of foods, medications, etc.) fit to eat or use according to Islamic law: halal cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

      halal baked goods;

      halal cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

2. permissible to have or do under Islamic law.

   halal savings accounts that do not pay interest.

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noun

1. a halal animal or halal meat.

   Halal is sold at my local supermarket.

halal British  

/ hɑːˈlɑːl /

noun

1. meat from animals that have been killed according to Muslim law

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adjective

1. of or relating to such meat

   a halal butcher

verb

1. to kill (animals) in this way

Etymology

Origin of halal

First recorded in 1795–1800; from Arabic ḥalāl (noun) “that which is lawful”

Explanation

Food that's halal is allowed under the religious laws of Islam. It's especially important for observant Muslims to eat only halal meat that's been prepared in a certain way. The adjective halal can describe non-food items and also allowable or proper behavior. It's not considered halal for a Muslim to eat pork, for example, or to drink alcohol or use intoxicating drugs. The word halal literally means "lawful" in Arabic, and the specifics of what is and isn't halal is found in the Quran, the main religious text in Islam.

Example Sentences

Before we went in, we sat in the parking lot of the strip mall — signs in Arabic advertising bread, coffee, halal meats, the Little Arabia District — hand in hand.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

The chain is now pursuing halal certification in Indonesia and Malaysia, a move that could open up Muslim-majority markets across the Middle East.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

Chef Awa Sibi cooks food from her homeland of Côte d’Ivoire, along with other West African specialties, all halal.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

In the styrofoam boxes of New York’s halal carts and the cast-iron dishware of its trendiest restaurants.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

The day after Thanksgiving they had all gone to Jackson Heights, to the halal butcher so that both their mothers could stock up on goat meat, and then to brunch.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri