mullah

American

[muhl-uh, mool-uh, moo-luh] / ˈmʌl ə, ˈmʊl ə, ˈmu lə /

Also mulla,

noun

(in Islamic countries) a title of respect for a person who is learned in, teaches, or expounds the sacred law.
(in Turkey) a provincial judge.

mullah British

/ ˈmʌlə, ˈmʊlə, ˈmɒlə /

noun

(formerly) a Muslim scholar, teacher, or religious leader: also used as a title of respect

"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

Etymology

Origin of mullah

1605–15; < Persian or Urdu mullā < Arabic mawlā; see maulvi

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.

Sodais said he was confronted by his local mullah, or Muslim clergy leader, in 2015 for working with Western armed forces.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

A cartoon in the Chicago Tribune portrayed Mr. Civiletti addressing the International Court of Justice while an Iranian mullah rips away at his trousers.

From Washington Post • Oct. 18, 2022

He also defended his actually making a personal call with a Taliban mullah, which was noted as having previously been “unthinkable” in media reports at the time.

From Washington Times • Sep. 22, 2022

The new head of administrative affairs at the Education Ministry, also a mullah, wore a cartridge belt to his appointment ceremony in December.

From New York Times • Jan. 13, 2022

The mullah questioned the witnesses and read from the Koran.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023