sheikh
Britishnoun
Etymology
Origin of sheikh
C16: from Arabic shaykh old man
Explanation
Sheikh is a formal title for an Arabic man. It's common for tribal chiefs, religious leaders, and royal family members to be addressed as sheikh. The Arabic source of sheikh is shaykh, which literally means "old man," from a root meaning "to grow old." It's generally used as an honorific, to address a respected elder such as village leaders and family patriarchs. In Islam and Sufism, sheikhs are religious figures or scholars. A woman in a similar position of power or respect is commonly known as a shaykhah.
Vocabulary lists containing sheikh
Chapter 14: Islamic Civilization
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When the Emperor Was Divine
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The hotel is located on one of Dubai’s busiest real-estate hubs, Sheikh Zayed Road.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
She's been embroiled for years in a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud plunged Somalia into a fresh political crisis in mid-May after announcing a one-year extension of his term, which had been due to expire on May 15.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term in office ended on 15 May but was extended by a year.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
The new leader, Sheikh Mujib Rahman, recently released from prison, asked countries for building materials to replace more than one million houses that had been destroyed in the war.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
