abaya
Americannoun
-
a coarse, felted fabric woven of camel's or goat's hair.
-
a loose, sleeveless outer garment made of this fabric or of silk, worn by Arabs.
noun
Etymology
Origin of abaya
First recorded in 1805–15; from Arabic ʿabā'(ah)
Vocabulary lists containing abaya
The Middle East and Central Asia - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Middle East and Central Asia - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Middle East and Central Asia - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
As education minister between 2023 and 2024, he tackled bullying and also banned pupils from wearing the abaya, a loose-fitting garment from the shoulders to the feet worn by Muslim women.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
Some post photos of themselves in traditional Saudi dress: for men a thobe and headdress, for women an abaya and headscarf.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026
Women are no longer required to wear the fully cloaking black abaya.
From Seattle Times ● May 19, 2024
Luxury fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana released an abaya collection in 2016 in the Middle East.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2023
I tighten the grip on the abaya still gathered around my hips and look at her.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
