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• shiah
  shiah

  noun

  the Shiʿites.
• Shiah
  Shiah

  noun

  one of the two main branches of Islam (the other being the Sunni), making up a tenth or more of the entire Muslim population, and forming the majority in Iran and Iraq, which regards Mohammed's cousin Ali and his successors as the true imams

shiah

American  

[shee-uh] / ˈʃi ə /

Or Shiʿa

noun

Islam.

1. (used with a plural verb) the Shiʿites.

2. (used with a singular verb) Shiʿite.

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Shiah British  

/ ˈʃiːə /

noun

1. one of the two main branches of Islam (the other being the Sunni), making up a tenth or more of the entire Muslim population, and forming the majority in Iran and Iraq, which regards Mohammed's cousin Ali and his successors as the true imams

2. another name for Shiite

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adjective

1. designating or characteristic of this sect or its beliefs and practices

Etymology

Origin of shiah

First recorded in 1620–30, Shiʿah is from the Arabic word shīʿah literally, sect