Sufi

American  

[soo-fee] / ˈsu fi /

noun

Sufis plural

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

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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

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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

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

Bangladesh -- the world's fourth most populous Muslim-majority country -- is home to diverse strands of Islamic practice, including a significant Sufi community often condemned by hardline Islamists.

From Barron's • Dec. 29, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2025

Over the years, renowned Sufi and folk artists have played santoors handcrafted by Mr Ghulam Mohammed.

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