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Synonyms

khan

1 American  
[kahn, kan] / kɑn, kæn /
Archaic, cham

noun

  1. (in the Altaic group of languages) a title held by hereditary rulers or tribal chiefs.

  2. the supreme ruler of the Tatar tribes, as well as emperor of China, during the Middle Ages: a descendant of Genghis Khan.

  3. a title of respect used in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and other countries of Asia.

khan 2 American  
[kahn, kan] / kɑn, kæn /

noun

  1. an inn or caravansary.

khan 1 British  
/ kɑːn /

noun

    1. (formerly) a title borne by medieval Chinese emperors and Mongol and Turkic rulers: usually added to a name

      Kublai Khan

    2. such a ruler

  2. a title of respect borne by important personages in Afghanistan and central Asia

"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
Khan 2 British  
/ kɑːn /

noun

  1. See Imran Khan

"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
khan 3 British  
/ kɑːn /

noun

  1. an inn in Turkey, certain Arab countries, etc; caravanserai

"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

Etymology

Origin of khan1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English Ca(a)n, Chan, ultimately from Turkic Khān, apparently contraction of Khāgān, equivalent to Turkish kağan “ruler”

Origin of khan2

1350–1400; < Arabic < Persian; replacing Middle English alchan < Arabic ( al the + khān )

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.

Montesquieu’s disdain for absolute authority undoubtedly influenced his view of the great khan.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

To preserve this wealth and the harmony the yassa had created for at least the population of the Mongol Empire, Chinggis had insisted that one of his sons be the next great khan.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

London Mayor Sadiq khan said he was “heartbroken” by the news.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 19, 2021

In the statue, the first large-scale rendition in the U.S. of the sacred figure, Mary is depicted standing on a cloud, wearing a traditional Vietnamese ao dai dress and khan dong hat.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 20, 2021

“I just did. The khan thought your price of ivory was a little high.”

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

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.