Hussein

American  

[hoo-seyn] / hʊˈseɪn /

noun

1. Also Hosein; Husain al-Husayn, a.d. 629?–680, Arabian caliph, the son of Ali and Fatima and the brother of Hasan.

2. Saddam at-Takriti, 1937–2006, Iraqi political leader: president 1979–2003.

---

Hussein British  

/ hʊˈseɪn /

noun

1. Also: Husain.  1935–99, king of Jordan (1952–99)

2. Saddam (sæˈdæm). 1937–2006, Iraqi politician: president (1979–2003) and prime minister (1994–2003) of Iraq. He led Iraq into the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88) and the Gulf War (1991) but was deposed and captured in the US-led invasion of 2003; executed 2006

---

Example Sentences

The first Gulf War arguably had two winners: Saddam Hussein for surviving, the U.S. for kicking him out of Kuwait.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

More recently, a statue of Saddam Hussein famously met the same fate.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Hussein Duwaima, whose original clothes shop was destroyed, said life was coming back "gradually" in Gaza and demand has picked up ahead of the holiday as crowds of shoppers pack makeshift markets.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

Among those racing across the city was Hussein Fakih, the regional head of the government-run Lebanese Civil Defence - the country's primary firefighting, first aid and rescue force.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

A boy named Hussein, a small Meskhetian Turk with big eyes set wide apart, was skipping and thrashing his arms, making his teammates laugh.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John