Khomeini

American  

[khoh-mey-nee, khoo-, khaw-mey-nee] / xoʊˈmeɪ ni, xʊ-, ˌxɔ meɪˈni /

noun

1. Ayatollah Ruhollah 1900?–89, Islamic leader of Iran 1979–89.

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Khomeini British  

/ ˈxɔmeɪˈniː /

noun

1. Ruholla (ˈruhɒˈlɑː), known as Ayatollah Khomeini. 1900–89, Iranian Shiite Muslim religious and political leader. Following the overthrow of the shah of Iran (1979) he returned from exile and instituted an Islamic republic. His rule saw deteriorating relations with the West and war (1980–88) with Iraq

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Khomeini

He was appointed supreme leader in 1989 after the death of the Islamic Republic's founding father, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Nearly four decades ago, I was in Iran when it buried its first supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

The state funeral of Khamenei’s predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989, drew an estimated 10 million mourners and prompted chaotic scenes, in which officials nearly lost control of his coffin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

The latest of Khamenei's statements was read out on Thursday at the ceremony commemorating the death of Khomeini.

From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026

But when Khomeini came to power, he founded the Islamic Republic of Iran and introduced Islamic law to the country.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi