Taliban

American

[tal-uh-ban] / ˈtæl əˌbæn /

noun

a Muslim fundamentalist group in Afghanistan.

Taliban British

/ ˈtælɪbæn /

noun

(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:

Taliban

My own visits to provincial cities and towns in recent years have underscored how some local Taliban officials try to find pragmatic solutions.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

The Taliban government celebrates five years of ruling Afghanistan on Saturday, with the authorities hailing their country's "freedom" and security, while critics decry tightening restrictions in all areas of daily life.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

On the other, there are Taliban demands – sanctions relief, unfreezing assets, diplomatic representation.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

These include women's rights, unpredictable Taliban edicts, international sanctions and aid cuts during a spiralling humanitarian crisis.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

Was it possible that the army had defeated the Taliban?

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023