Mahdi

American  

[mah-dee] / ˈmɑ di /

noun

• Mahdis
  plural

1. the Muslim messiah, an expected spiritual and temporal ruler destined to establish a reign of righteousness throughout the world.

2. any of various claimants to this role, especially Muhammad Ahmed, who established an independent government in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan that lasted until 1898.

---

Mahdi British  

/ ˈmɑːdɪ /

noun

1. the title assumed by Mohammed Ahmed. ?1843–85, Sudanese military leader, who led a revolt against Egypt (1881) and captured Khartoum (1885)

2. Islam any of a number of Muslim messiahs expected to convert all mankind to Islam

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Mahdism
  noun
• Mahdist
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Mahdis
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of Mahdi

First recorded in 1790–1800, Mahdi is from the Arabic word mahdīy he who is guided

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Mahdi Mahdis

“Iran has a hybrid strategy in the current war,” wrote Mahdi Mohammadi, a senior advisor to Iran’s chief negotiator, in a post on X.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

"If the semiconductor industry wants to succeed with 2D materials, the active layer and the insulating layer must be designed together from the very beginning," emphasizes Mahdi Pourfath.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2026

Mahdi told me: "When people talk, they share information gradually, they leave things out and they get distracted."

From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2026

Others like Mahdi Mohaddes, a 41-year-old engineer, echoed her sentiment.

From Barron's ● Apr. 9, 2026

Fedora tilted to one side, suit neady buttoned, face in shadow, the Mahdi approaches her.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Mahdis now lives in Irvine, Calif., teaches English as a second language, and is pursuing a master’s degree.

From Slate ● Nov. 10, 2020

Mahdis was born in Iowa and grew up in California.

From Slate ● Nov. 10, 2020

The Mahdis who have arisen in Mohammedan Africa, and other Moslem prophets, have produced wonderful phenomena of this kind.

From Folkways A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals by William Graham Sumner

Already various Mahdis had made their appearance; several had been highly successful, and two, in medieval times, had founded dynasties in Egypt.

From Eminent Victorians by Giles Lytton Strachey

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---