sheikh
Britishnoun
Etymology
Origin of sheikh
C16: from Arabic shaykh old man
Explanation
Sheikh is a formal title for an Arabic man. It's common for tribal chiefs, religious leaders, and royal family members to be addressed as sheikh. The Arabic source of sheikh is shaykh, which literally means "old man," from a root meaning "to grow old." It's generally used as an honorific, to address a respected elder such as village leaders and family patriarchs. In Islam and Sufism, sheikhs are religious figures or scholars. A woman in a similar position of power or respect is commonly known as a shaykhah.
Vocabulary lists containing sheikh
Chapter 14: Islamic Civilization
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
When the Emperor Was Divine
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
A visiting Saudi sheikh is with the group and Bayoumi can also be heard addressing Anwar al-Awlaki with the honorific "Sheikh Anwar".
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
The sheikh last year backed a $500 million investment into World Liberty Financial in exchange for a 49% stake in the company, The Wall Street Journal previously reported.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
This was while the sheikh wanted the Trump administration’s approval for access to sensitive A.I. chips.
From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026
In 1982, a Kuwaiti sheikh came onto the pitch and persuaded the referee to cancel a goal.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
"So you think," said he, "that the sheikh is dead?"
From Across the Cameroons A Story of War and Adventure by Charles Gilson
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
