niqab

British

/ nɪˈkɑːb /

noun

Islam a type of veil worn by some Muslim women that is made of lightweight opaque fabric and leaves only the eyes uncovered

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of niqab

C20: from Arabic

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.

Her captor did not speak Arabic fluently and had "Asian features", she said, adding that he removed her niqab and took photos.

From BBC

"Each class has more than 105 or 110 students," she said, wearing the black niqab, or face-covering, that is customary for Yemeni women.

From Barron's

"He joked about the niqab, and women driving. He also did a skit about how people in Riyadh think they are god's gift to earth."

From BBC

Several countries have introduced restrictions on where the burka or niqab can be worn.

From BBC

The state initially introduced the niqab ban in 2013, citing security risks, but it was rarely enforced.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023