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:
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
Montesquieu’s disdain for absolute authority undoubtedly influenced his view of the 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
After just a few weeks, the khan was considered dead, and the mansion in the saffron fields fell into decay.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
AI data centers likely involves builders offering more safeguards, local investments, and contractual commitments including electricity-bill protection, says Malik Ahmed Khan, senior equity analyst from Morningstar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Mazari's mother, Shireen Mazari, is a former human rights minister who served in the government of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Khan said he takes a detour to get to the corner shop.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
"We fear these elections could bring an even worse leader," said Huda al-Houli, a displaced resident of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
I wish I could signal to Auntie Seema that I'm here, but Officer Khan has been after me since I left the hospital.
From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
