khan
1 Americannoun
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(in the Altaic group of languages) a title held by hereditary rulers or tribal chiefs.
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the supreme ruler of the Tatar tribes, as well as emperor of China, during the Middle Ages: a descendant of Genghis Khan.
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a title of respect used in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and other countries of Asia.
noun
noun
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(formerly) a title borne by medieval Chinese emperors and Mongol and Turkic rulers: usually added to a name
Kublai Khan
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such a ruler
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a title of respect borne by important personages in Afghanistan and central Asia
noun
noun
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.
“I just did. The khan thought your price of ivory was a little high.”
From Literature
And the khan was never heard from again.
From Literature
London Mayor Sadiq khan said he was “heartbroken” by the news.
From Seattle Times
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
Costumes that reflected cultural diversity/inclusion — patrons kitted out as Nubian kings or queens, Mongol khans or princesses.
From Washington Post
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.
