Sufi

American  

[soo-fee] / ˈsu fi /

noun

• Sufis
  plural

1. a member of an ascetic, mystical Muslim sect.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to Sufis or Sufism.

Sufi British  

/ ˈsuːfɪ /

noun

1. an adherent of any of various Muslim mystical orders or teachings, which emphasize the direct personal experience of God

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Sufic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Sufis
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Sufi

First recorded in 1650–55; from Arabic Ṣūfī “(man) of wool,” equivalent to ṣūf “wool” + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin; so called from the ascetic woolen clothing the Sufis wore

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Sufi Sufis

Muslims ruled large parts of India from the early 13th to the 19th century, and during this era Muslim preachers and Sufi mystics actively proselytized for Islam.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026

He hopes to see the mosque, which houses the tomb of a Sufi sheikh, host a traditional music festival when the renovation is complete, "in five months".

From Barron's ● Feb. 1, 2026

The whirling Sufi dervishes have known for ages that dance is spiritual.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2025

In Kashmir, it took on a distinct identity, becoming central to Sufi poetry and folk traditions.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2025

This poor Sufi dressed in rags walked into a jewelry store owned by a rich merchant and asked him, “Do you know how you’re going to die?”

From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

I began to pick up some of the wise writers in the Western tradition — Meister Eckhart, Etty Hillesum — no longer convinced that Sufis or Buddhists owned a monopoly on wisdom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 4, 2025

Sufis behaved like monks in other religions, renouncing the artificial performance of religious duties, as well as luxury and worldliness, to embrace a life dedicated to mystical union with God.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023

“But the Sufis would revere him, because he was all about the connection.”

From New York Times ● Nov. 6, 2022

She said Sufis, Ahmadiyya Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus are also persecuted, while Baha’is, Buddhists, Zoroastrians and Christians “practice secretly or have gone into hiding.”

From Washington Times ● Aug. 24, 2022

“Among the Sufis there is a teaching that the universe has never been created and consequently cannot be destroyed. I have spent the afternoon,” Luke announced gravely, “browsing in our little library.”

From "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson