Shiʿite

[ shee-ahyt ]

/ ˈʃi aɪt /

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noun Islam.

a member of one of the two great religious divisions of Islam that regards Ali, the son-in-law of Muhammad, as the legitimate successor of Muhammad, and disregards the three caliphs who succeeded him.

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Also Shiite, Shiʿa, Shiʿah, Shi·ʿi

[shee-ee, shee-ee]. /ʃiˈi, ˈʃi i/.

Compare Sunni (def. 1).

Origin of Shiʿite

Shiʿah + -ite¹

OTHER WORDS FROM Shiʿite

Shi·ʿism

[shee-iz-uhm], /ˈʃi ɪz əm/, nounShi·ʿit·ic

[shee-it-ik], /ʃiˈɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby Shiʿite

Shih Ching, Shih Huang Ti, Shih Tzu, Shiism, shiitake, Shiʿite, Shijiazhuang, shikar, shikari, Shikibu, shikibuton

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Shiʿite in a sentence

A Shiite stronghold wrapped in a Sunni explosive belt—not exactly a picture of stability.
The Nuclear Deal That Iran’s Regime Fears Most|Djavad Khadem|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Allying themselves with the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, some Lebanese Christians are standing their ground against ISIS.
Lebanese Christians Gun Up Against ISIS|Susannah George|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Last month, the three largest Shiite militias told President Obama not to send ground troops into Iraq.
Iran Orders Elite Troops: Lay Off U.S. Forces in Iraq|Eli Lake|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the United Kingdom, 100 Sunni and Shiite Imams have joined together to condemn ISIS.
Why Muslims Hate Terrorism More|Dean Obeidallah|August 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They had feared ISIS fighters and their Sunni allies would unleash a massacre of the predominantly Shiite townsfolk.
This Is How You Fight ISIS|Jamie Dettmer|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is noticeable, however, that within the last fifty years the religious bitterness of Shiite and Sunite is sensibly in decline.
The Future of Islam|Wilfred Scawen Blunt
The future of Shiite Mohammedanism in Persia proper is a still more doubtful problem.
The Future of Islam|Wilfred Scawen Blunt
(e) Shiite Moslems outnumber the Sunni, and make about one twenty-fifth of the whole.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 16, Slice 3|Various
According to Shiite tradition, it is the twelfth Imam of the race of Ali who is to appear.
The Contemporary Review, January 1883|Various
On the last night many Shiite Moslems walk to the mosque in bare feet, wearing sackcloth.
Modern Persia|Mooshie G. Daniel

British Dictionary definitions for Shiʿite

Shiite

Shiah

/ (ˈʃiːaɪt) Islam /

noun

an adherent of Shiah

adjective

of or relating to Shiah

Derived forms of Shiite

Shiitic (ʃiːˈɪtɪk), adjective

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