Mahdi

American  

[mah-dee] / ˈmɑ di /

noun

plural

Mahdis

1. the Muslim messiah, an expected spiritual and temporal ruler destined to establish a reign of righteousness throughout the world.

2. any of various claimants to this role, especially Muhammad Ahmed, who established an independent government in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan that lasted until 1898.

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Mahdi British  

/ ˈmɑːdɪ /

noun

1. the title assumed by Mohammed Ahmed. ?1843–85, Sudanese military leader, who led a revolt against Egypt (1881) and captured Khartoum (1885)

2. Islam any of a number of Muslim messiahs expected to convert all mankind to Islam

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Other Word Forms

• Mahdism
  noun
• Mahdist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Mahdi

First recorded in 1790–1800, Mahdi is from the Arabic word mahdīy he who is guided

Example Sentences

Mahdi says people on the study who did a traditional internet search largely ended up on the NHS website and "were better prepared".

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Others like Mahdi Mohaddes, a 41-year-old engineer, echoed her sentiment.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

“We are stuck between two outcomes, each of them worse than the other,” said Mahdi Ghuloom, a fellow at the ORF Middle East think tank in Bahrain.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Mahdi Manji, director of public policy at the Inner City Law Center, said that by not allowing affordable housing in the single-family-home areas, the rezoning proposal is “playing at the edges” of integrating communities.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2024

With that, the Mahdi walks past my grandmother, through the lobby and double doors, and out of our lives.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides