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emirate

American  
[uh-meer-it, -ayt, ay-meer-, em-er-it] / əˈmɪər ɪt, -eɪt, eɪˈmɪər-, ˈɛm ər ɪt /
amirate,

noun

  • emirates
    plural
  1. the office or rank of an emir.

  2. the state or territory under the jurisdiction of an emir.

  3. the Emirates. United Arab Emirates.


emirate British  
/ ˈɛmɪrɪt, ɛˈmɪərɪt /

noun

  1. the rank or office of an emir

  2. the government, jurisdiction, or territory of an emir

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of emirate

First recorded in 1860–65; emir + -ate 3


Vocabulary lists containing emirate

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:

Washington is rethinking the wisdom of its large military footprint in the Persian Gulf emirate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

It is the same across Dubai, the once-vibrant emirate of skyscrapers and strivers that unexpectedly found itself on the front lines of the Iran war.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

I see how they seem electrified by every image of smoke rising over an emirate and every siren sounding on an American base.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

The unclaimed drone struck an electrical generator on Sunday near the Arab world's first nuclear power plant in Barakah in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, triggering a fire but causing no injuries nor radiation leak.

From Barron's ● May 20, 2026

Valencia.—The emirate of Valencia was reconquered by Aragon in 1238.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various

Whenever the Iran war ends, the seven emirates comprising the U.A.E. will have significant refunding commitments to rebuild the damage to their economies caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 28, 2026

After the fuel tank strike on Mar. 16, Dubai—one of seven emirates and the UAE’s commercial hub—has sought to reassure passengers, declaring flights in and out of its airports to be safe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 22, 2026

One of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates along with Abu Dhabi, Fujairah is strategically located on the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz, with direct access to the Indian Ocean.

From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2026

That same day, Governor Yusuf signed the law and gave the emirs of the abolished emirates a 48 hours to vacate their palaces.

From BBC ● May 24, 2024

It’s actually made of seven emirates, which are like states, but more like principalities, because they’re owned by seven princes called emirs.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

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