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• khan
  khan

  noun

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

  noun

  See Imran Khan

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.

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khan ² American  

[kahn, kan] / kɑn, kæn /

noun

1. an inn or caravansary.

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khan ¹ British  

/ kɑːn /

noun

1. 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

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Khan ² British  

/ kɑːn /

noun

1. See Imran Khan

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khan ³ British  

/ kɑːn /

noun

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

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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 )

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Explanation

Historically, khans were Central Asian emperors, nobles, and military leaders. One of the most famous was Genghis Khan, ruler of the 13th-century Mongol empire. The power held by someone with the title of khan depended on the country or region. In some places a khan was the most powerful ruler, and in others the khan merely controlled an army or small nomadic tribe. While the use of khan as a title faded after the Middle Ages, it became a common surname among South and Central Asian Muslims. Khan's Turkic root is khaqan, or "ruler."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

khan Khan

When Mongke’s brother Kublai succeeded him as great khan, the empire was beginning to divide into those who preferred the old nomadic ways and those who had adopted a settled lifestyle of wealth and trade.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023

Timur’s troops then turned north to the Russian territory controlled by a former follower named Tokhtamish, the khan of the Golden Horde, who sought the same lands in central Asia that Timur claimed.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023

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

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 19, 2021

There is this story in our family: Near my grandfather’s shop, by the Great Mosque, there was a khan where a mufti named Haji İbrahim—who belonged to the prominent Pirinççizade clan—drank tea.

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 29, 2014

Aziz’s dad was a khan for owning all the fields.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

Khan said that such supply constraints are expected to continue into next year, particularly impacting iPads and Macs.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

Khan said he takes a detour to get to the corner shop.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Khan said there were cab ranks and bus stops near the street so people can still access the area with ease.

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026

London Mayor Lord Sadiq Khan said the move marked the "end of decline" for the street.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

"I want to talk to Officer Khan for a second," I explain, seeing the concern on their faces.

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi

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