Janjaweed
Britishnoun
Etymology
Origin of Janjaweed
Arabic: a man with a horse and a gun
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.
Many of the Janjaweed fighters went on to join the RSF.
From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025
The RSF, formerly known as the Janjaweed, emerged in the early 2000s as an auxiliary militia in Darfur and later evolved into a powerful, independently commanded force.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025
The RSF was formed from Janjaweed fighters by former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who ruled the country for three decades before being overthrown during a popular uprising in 2019.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2024
The RSF developed from the Janjaweed militias into a large and well-equipped fighting force with official status.
From Reuters • Jul. 17, 2023
Chad has a history of clashing with the precursor to the RSF — pro-government Sudanese Arab militias known as the Janjaweed.
From Washington Post • Apr. 28, 2023
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
