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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Mahdist
  noun
• Mahdism
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• Mahdis
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Mahdi

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

Example Sentences

"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

“Living is not affordable anymore,” said Mahdi Ghodsi of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Ben Hania spent hours getting to know real-life emergency responders Rana Hassan Faqih, Omar A. Alqam, Mahdi M. Aljamal and Nisreen Jeries Qawas during a series of videoconference calls.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

Mahdi Amin, a key adviser to BNP leader Rahman, puts it bluntly: "The bigger the nation, the more the responsibility."

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

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

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides