ayatollah

American

[ah-yuh-toh-luh] / ˌɑ yəˈtoʊ lə /

noun

(among Shiʿites) a title in the religious hierarchy achieved by scholars who have demonstrated highly advanced knowledge of Islamic law and religion.

ayatollah British

/ ˌaɪəˈtɒlə /

noun

one of a class of Iranian Shiite religious leaders

"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

Etymology

Origin of ayatollah

1975–80; < Persian < Arabic āyat allāh sign of God; cf. Allah

Vocabulary lists containing ayatollah

The Middle East and Central Asia - Middle School

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The Middle East and Central Asia - High School

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Muslim Empires and the Middle East - High School

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