halal

[ huh-lahl ]

/ həˈlɑl /

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adjective

relating to or noting meat prepared or animals slaughtered in the manner prescribed by Islamic law: a halal butcher.
(of foods, medications, etc.) fit to eat or use according to Islamic law: halal baked goods;halal cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

permissible to have or do under Islamic law: halal savings accounts that do not pay interest.

noun

a halal animal or halal meat: Halal is sold at my local supermarket.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Compare haram (defs. 1-3).

Origin of halal

First recorded in 1795–1800; from Arabic ḥalāl (noun) “that which is lawful”

Words nearby halal

halachist, Halafian, Halakah, Halakhah, halakhist, halal, halala, halalah, Halas, halation, halavah

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use halal in a sentence

It’s a quality pair, for sure, and even better, the chicken, like everything at Uncle C’s, is halal.
The terrific Uncle C’s tells a little known story about fried chicken in America|Tim Carman|September 27, 2021|Washington Post
'You don't have a choice'At Hoshine’s factories, halal food is offered in the cafeteria.
Solar industry’s ties to China’s Xinjiang region raise specter of forced labor|Lily Kuo, Pei Lin Wu, Jeanne Whalen|June 24, 2021|Washington Post
For other iftars, mosques use their budgets to book catering from halal restaurants.
How Muslims Are Rethinking the Future of Ramadan|Mehreen Karim|May 6, 2021|Eater
Other shady practices include non-halal meat being marketed as halal.
Inside The Growing Organic Halal Movement|Sharon Adarlo|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

As for Yasin, he strives to make sure some of his halal meat comes from his own hands.
Inside The Growing Organic Halal Movement|Sharon Adarlo|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Is it halal if the animal lives a miserable life while never seeing sunlight?
Inside The Growing Organic Halal Movement|Sharon Adarlo|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are some examples of halal businesses trying to buck the mainstream.
Inside The Growing Organic Halal Movement|Sharon Adarlo|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Halal means “permissible” in Arabic and refers to food that does not contain alcohol and pork.
Inside The Growing Organic Halal Movement|Sharon Adarlo|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We spent a couple of distracting minutes going through the menu from the halal Pakistani place on Valencia.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
“Hade mushe halal,” (that is not lawful,) said I to him with a loud voice.
The Bible in Spain|George Borrow
“There was but little between them,” Xa a halal qui cohol ahauh; this expression is not clear.
The Annals of the Cakchiquels|Daniel G. Brinton

British Dictionary definitions for halal

halal

hallal

/ (hɑːˈlɑːl) /

noun

meat from animals that have been killed according to Muslim law

adjective

of or relating to such meata halal butcher

verb -als, -alling or -alled (tr)

to kill (animals) in this way

Word Origin for halal

from Arabic: lawful

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