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Synonyms

sultan

American  
[suhl-tn] / ˈsʌl tn /

noun

  1. the sovereign of an Islamic country.

  2. (often initial capital letter)  any of the former sovereigns of Turkey.

  3. any absolute ruler or despot.


sultan British  
/ sʌlˈtænɪk, ˈsʌltən /

noun

  1. the sovereign of a Muslim country, esp of the former Ottoman Empire

  2. an arbitrary ruler; despot

  3. a small domestic fowl with a white crest and heavily feathered legs and feet: originated in Turkey

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • sultan-like adjective
  • sultanic adjective
  • sultanlike adjective
  • sultanship noun

Etymology

Origin of sultan

1545–55; < Middle French < Turkish < Arabic sulṭān sovereign

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.

Magyar, Orbán’s main rival in next year’s pivotal election, mocked him as a mafia boss, a Turkish sultan and Ali Baba with 40 thieves.

From The Wall Street Journal

She presented herself as a wealthy, illegitimate daughter of the sultan of Brunei, initially showering Mr Hornigold, his then-partner Heather Kaniuk and his friends with lavish gifts, from cars to homes.

From BBC

Words such as "sultan" and "shrine" are disappearing from place names - to be replaced with terms such as "harmony" and "happiness", according to the research, which is based on China's own published data.

From BBC

Beneath a crisply tailored jacket unfolded a spectacle of billowing white printed sultan pants.

From Seattle Times

But it's not like in the movies where there's just women in a tent waiting for the sultan.

From Salon