Pashtun

[ pash-toon, pahsh-, puhsh- ]

noun

1. a people of eastern and southern Afghanistan and neighboring regions of northwest Pakistan; the dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan.
2. Also called Pa·than [p, uh, -, tahn]. a member of the Pashtun people.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Pashtun people.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pashtun¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from Pashto Pəx̌tānə, Pax̌tūn, Pəshtūn

Example Sentences

He went further, saying the time has come for Pashtuns to acknowledge a non-Pashtun as their leader.

From The Daily Beast

By contrast, Ashraf Ghani, the current forerunner in the partial second round results, got record support in Pashtun areas.

From The Daily Beast

“When the U.S. leaves, the Taliban will get ‘red eyes,’” says Jan using a Pashtun metaphor for becoming more aggressive.

From The Daily Beast

According to Ismael Yoon, the director of the Pashtun-language station, the two singers were becoming increasingly popular.

From The Daily Beast

Sanga Aman, a Pashtun TV news anchor, was killed by her parents in 2007.

From The Daily Beast