Druze

Or Druse

[drooz]

noun

1. Islam.,  a member of an independent religious sect living chiefly in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, established in the 11th century as a branch of Ismaʿili Shiʿism and containing elements of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and believing in the transmigration of souls and the ultimate perfection of humankind.

Other Word Forms

• Druzean adjective
• Druzian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Druze¹

1595–1605; < Arabic durūz, plural of durzī a Druze, derivative of the name of one of the sect founders, Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl al-Darazī

Example Sentences

Mr. Sharaa once promised an “inclusive transitional government,” yet he excluded groups such as the Kurds and Druze from constitution-drafting and the appointment of parliamentarians, which gave limited seats to the country’s minorities.

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Al-Sharaa's rule, however, has been marred by killings of members of Syria's Alawite minority, as well as by deadly violence between Sunni Bedouin fighters and Druze militias.

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In his register of interests, Givan said the trip was a "fact-finding tour" and involved "visiting Israeli Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and others".

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Most of the dead were from the Druze minority.

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In under a year, HTS has presided over no fewer than three incidents of large-scale sectarian bloodletting, in which Sunni forces associated with its regime have carried out killings of Alawites and Druze.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal