Shiʿah

or Shi·ʿa

[ shee-uh ]

noun

, Islam.

1. (used with a plural verb) the Shiʿites.
2. (used with a singular verb) Shiʿite.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Shiʿah¹

First recorded in 1620–30, Shiʿah is from the Arabic word shīʿah literally, sect