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Taliban

American  
[tal-uh-ban] / ˈtæl əˌbæn /

noun

  1. a Muslim fundamentalist group in Afghanistan.


Taliban British  
/ ˈtælɪbæn /

noun

  1. (in Afghanistan) a fundamentalist Islamic army: in 1996 it defeated the ruling mujaheddin factions and seized control of the country; overthrown in 2001 by US-led forces, although reistance continues, esp in the south

"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

Etymology

Origin of Taliban

C20: from Arabic tāliban seekers

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.

See Examples For:

He said during his court-martial in 2013 that he believed he was protecting Muslims and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

The UN Human Rights Council on Monday unanimously urged the Taliban to repeal all practices restricting the fundamental freedoms of women and girls, saying Afghanistan's institutionalised discrimination should shock humanity.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

The independent inquiry was established in 2022 to investigate alleged executions by members of the Special Air Service between 2010 and 2013, during so-called night raids targeting the Taliban.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the attacks were in Afghanistan's Kandahar, Paktia and Khost provinces.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

We breathed a little easier but wondered: Where would the Taliban go in retreat?

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai

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