chador

American  

[chuhd-er] / ˈtʃʌd ər /

Or chadar,

noun

1. the traditional garment of Muslim and Hindu women, consisting of a long, usually black or drab-colored cloth or veil that envelops the body from head to foot and covers all or part of the face.

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chador British  

/ ˈtʃʌdə /

noun

1. a variant spelling of chuddar

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Etymology

Origin of chador

1605–15; < Hindi < Persian chaddar, chādur veil, sheet

Explanation

A chador is a long, cape-like garment that covers the hair and body of some devout Muslim women. It's especially common in Iran for women to wear a chador when they're out in public. There is a wide variety of head coverings worn by Muslim women in various countries and traditions, including the hijab, khimar, and burka. The chador is mainly native to Iran, where it was primarily worn at funerals before the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Now it's uncommon for an Iranian woman to be seen without a chador, which extends from the head to the ankles. The Persian root is chadar, "scarf or veil," and also "tent or table cloth."

Example Sentences

The new arrivals are all from the Shia community and follow strict religious rules, with the women wearing the chador, a full-body cloak that covers everything but their faces.

From BBC • Oct. 29, 2024

The woman is photographed from behind and the pattern of her chador, which completely covers her, seems to intertwine with the dense floral design of the rug.

From Reuters • May 23, 2023

The hijab and chador - the flowing, all-encompassing robe for women - have long been parts of Persian culture.

From Washington Times • Mar. 8, 2021

The Associated Press spoke to a variety of people on Tehran's streets recently, ranging from young and old, women wearing the all-encompassing black chador to those loosely covering their hair.

From Fox News • May 19, 2019

A chador is a large cloth that's draped around a woman's head and body, leaving only the face exposed.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi