khan
noun
(in the Altaic group of languages) a title held by hereditary rulers or tribal chiefs.
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khan
1 American
[kahn, kan]
/ kɑn, kæn /
Archaic,
cham
noun
-
(in the Altaic group of languages) a title held by hereditary rulers or tribal chiefs.
-
the supreme ruler of the Tatar tribes, as well as emperor of China, during the Middle Ages: a descendant of Genghis Khan.
-
a title of respect used in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and other countries of Asia.
khan
2
American
[kahn, kan]
/ kɑn, kæn /
noun
khan
1
British
/ kɑːn /
noun
-
-
(formerly) a title borne by medieval Chinese emperors and Mongol and Turkic rulers: usually added to a name
Kublai Khan
-
such a ruler
-
-
a title of respect borne by important personages in Afghanistan and central Asia
Khan
2
British
/ kɑːn /
noun
khan
3
British
/ kɑːn /
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 )
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."
Vocabulary lists containing khan
Chinese History - Introductory
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Civilizations of East Asia and Southeast Asia, Lessons 1–3
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Chinese History - Middle School and High School
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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.
See Examples For:
Because he could not establish descent from Chinggis, he could not claim the title of khan himself.
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
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
Aziz began to feel that her mother had also left her, and would only return with the khan.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan has the best strike-rate against Buttler - removing him six times in just 82 deliveries.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Scott paper towels and Cottonelle toilet paper, is exploring an alternative to making its products from trees, Natasha Khan reports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Gaza's Civil Defence Authority said Israeli military aircraft carried out the strikes on Gaza City, Khan Younis and Deir el-Balah.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
Khan declined to directly address the allegations but said customers had largely been involved in the slaughter of animals they either brought themselves or purchased from him, with some assistance from employees.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
"Cleaning up the graffiti," said Mr. Khan, tugging at his beard.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
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.
