emir

American  

[uh-meer, ey-meer, ey-meer] / əˈmɪər, eɪˈmɪər, ˈeɪ mɪər /

Also ameer, or amir

noun

1. a chieftain, prince, commander, or head of state in some Islamic countries.

2. a title of honor of the descendants of Muhammad.

3. (initial capital letter) the former title of the ruler of Afghanistan.

4. a title of certain Turkish officials.

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emir British  

/ ɛˈmɪə /

noun

1. an independent ruler or chieftain

2. a military commander or governor

3. a descendant of Mohammed

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Etymology

Origin of emir

First recorded in 1625–35; from Arabic ʾamīr “commander, prince,” from ʾamara “to command, order”

Example Sentences

With Noem’s attention focused on her need to travel in the style of a Persian Gulf emir, the actual administration of the department has suffered.

From Salon

He says each wing of the prison has an emir, or leader, who issues fatwas - rulings on points of Islamic law.

From BBC

“It’s not like al Qaeda or ISIS, where you have a command or an emir in charge giving orders,” Hoffman said.

From Los Angeles Times

As Irish hotelier Patrick McKillen tells it, he met the former emir of Qatar on a yacht in Doha to discuss a business opportunity in California, more than 8,000 miles away.

From Los Angeles Times

She is expected to be at the farewells to the emir on Wednesday.

From BBC