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

Iranian state media reported explosions near the port city of Bandar Abbas, on the island of Qeshm and on Bandar Imam Khomeini.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

When Khamenei was appointed supreme leader in 1989 following the death of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, he was seen as lacking sufficient religious credentials for the role.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 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

We were scheduled to arrive at Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport at 2:35 a.m. local time, which constituted a thirty-minute journey into the future.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram