Daesh

American

[dah-eesh, dahsh] / dɑˈiʃ, dɑʃ /

Or Da'ish or Da'esh

noun

a name used to refer to ISIS/ISIL, the radical Sunni Muslim organization: use of this name is said to delegitimize the group's claim to be an "Islamic state."

Etymology

Origin of Daesh

Acronym of the group's full Arabic name, al-Dawla al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham , translated as “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (or the Levant)”

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.

See Examples For:

Daesh

IS - also known as Daesh - imposed jihadist rule over parts of Syria and Iraq until 2019.

From BBC ● Jan. 3, 2026

"We captured 125 Daesh suspects in simultaneous operations carried out in 25 provinces this morning," Ali Yerlikaya said, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

From Barron's ● Dec. 31, 2025

Qaradawi also opposed the ultra-radical Islamic State group, saying he totally disagreed with Daesh "in ideology and means".

From Reuters ● Sep. 26, 2022

The mission was under the control of Operation Inherent Resolve - the US-led coalition against the Islamic State, also known as Daesh.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 16, 2022

“We are the ones who are suffering the most after this attack. … We fear Daesh, but we also need water,” she said, using the Arabic name for IS.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 4, 2022

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