hijab

American  

[hi-jahb, -jab] / hɪˈdʒɑb, -ˈdʒæb /

noun

1. a traditional scarf worn by Muslim women to cover the hair and neck and sometimes the face.

2. the traditional dress code of Muslim women, calling for the covering of the entire body except the face, hands, and feet.

   to observe the hijab.

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hijab British  

/ hɪˈdʒæb, hɛˈdʒɑːb /

noun

1. a covering for the head and face, worn by Muslim women

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Etymology

Origin of hijab

First recorded in 1885–90; from Arabic ḥijāb “veil, cover, curtain,” from ḥajaba “to cover”

Explanation

A hijab is a head covering scarf that some Muslim women wear in public. For many such women, the hijab signifies both modesty and privacy. In some cases, the hijab is worn by a woman when she's with men who aren't in her own family. For other Muslims, it's equally important to wear a hijab in the presence of non-Muslims, including women. Still other practicing Muslims choose not to wear a hijab at all. The word hijab is Persian, from the Arabic ḥajaba, or "veil."

Example Sentences

While living in their long-term home in Afghanistan's Bamiyan province, Barbie said she wore a Hijab at all times and was not allowed out in public without her husband.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

Defender Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a Hijab in a World Cup game at the senior level, and her teammate Ibtissam Jraïdi scored the Atlas Lionesses’ first World Cup goal.

From Washington Times • Jul. 30, 2023

Hijab supporters deny that and say it has different meanings depending on the individual, including as a proud expression of Muslim identity.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2022

Nike made its first foray into modest athletic gear two years ago, when it introduced its thirty-five-dollar Pro Hijab, a stretchy, breathable head covering with a firm seal around the face.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 9, 2019

Hijab was the word for a headscarf in Arabic.

From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi