Khamenei

American

[khah-muh-ney, kah‑, khah-me-ney] / ˌxɑ məˈneɪ, ˌkɑ‑, ˌxɑ mɛˈneɪ /

noun

Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini, born 1939, chief Islamic leader of Iran since 1989.

Khamenei British

/ ˌxɑməˈnɪ /

noun

Ayatollah Seyed Ali (ˈseɪjət). born 1940, Iranian political and religious leader: president (1981–89); supreme leader from 1989

"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

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.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said he initially disagreed with the deal, but allowed it to go ahead after assurances from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

At the height of the war, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq congratulated Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as supreme leader.

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026

These include Mojtaba Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran's military, where Ghalibaf was a key figure as aerospace forces commander, Sabet said.

From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026

In practice, Khamenei generally takes his cues from a group of hard-line generals, mediators said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

Ayatollah Khamenei was Iran’s Supreme Cleric: the absolute religious and governmental authority.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram

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