Aga Khan

American

[ah-guh kahn] / ˈɑ gə ˈkɑn /

noun

Islam.

the divinely ordained head of the Ismaʿili branch of Shiʿism.

Aga Khan British

/ ˈɑːɡə ˈkɑːn /

noun

the hereditary title of the head of the Ismaili sect of Muslims

"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.

He died surrounded by family in Lisbon, Portugal, the Aga Khan Development Network said.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2025

Prince Karim Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather as Imam of the Ismaili Muslims in 1957 at the age of 20.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2025

For his efforts, Hussain has been awarded with accolades including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, India’s most elite honor for performing artists, SFJazz’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Aga Khan Award, per his family’s statement.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2024

Ismailis belong to a sub-sect of Shiite Islam, and recognize Prince Karim Aga Khan, a billionaire philanthropist, as their spiritual leader.

From New York Times • Mar. 28, 2023

One of her Indian admirers, the Aga Khan, came to visit her.

From Eminent Victorians by Strachey, Giles Lytton

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