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turban

American  
[tur-buhn] / ˈtɜr bən /

noun

turbans plural
  1. a man's headdress worn chiefly by Muslims in southern Asia, consisting of a long cloth of silk, linen, cotton, etc., wound either about a cap or directly around the head.

  2. any headdress resembling this.

  3. any of various off-the-face hats for women that are close-fitting, of a soft fabric, and brimless, or that have a narrow, sometimes draped, brim.


turban British  
/ ˈtɜːbən /

noun

  1. a man's headdress, worn esp by Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs, made by swathing a length of linen, silk, etc, around the head or around a caplike base

  2. a woman's brimless hat resembling this

  3. any headdress resembling this

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of turban

1555–65; earlier torbant, variant of tulbant < Turkish tülbent < Persian dulband

Explanation

A turban is a long scarf that's wrapped many times around a person's head. Men who are Sikh or Muslim traditionally wear turbans. There is a smaller woman's hat also called a turban that's styled after the traditional turban. Sikhs are the most common wearers of turbans, including some sikh women (although theirs are usually called a Dahtar). Turbans cover long hair and help keep it clean, as well as representing a proud Sikh identity. In Islam, different types of turbans represent different beliefs or social statuses. Turban comes from a Persian root, dulband.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing turban

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:

She remembers Saar sporting many a turban, chunky jewelry and large hats.

From Los Angeles Times May 7, 2026

Images of him in his austere wardrobe—a turban, clerical robes and a long, graying beard—appeared in offices, on billboards and murals throughout the country.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 1, 2026

Now 74, with a white beard and whiter turban, Ravinder is facing the possibility that he might be the last in that line.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 25, 2025

"They suspect them of being in league with the Malian army, which is why there were these reprisals," added the other man, dressed in a green boubou robe and traditional turban.

From Barron's Nov. 10, 2025

He was looking very peculiar in a large purple turban.

From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

As galas go, Becket’s is a doozy, with guests sporting kippahs, turbans and zucchettos.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 29, 2026

Many sport turbans, which are often brightly colored and tied to cover their uncut hair.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 12, 2025

“I want other Sikhs to know that their turbans, beards and other articles of faith don’t have to be an obstacle to any career, including one like mine,” he said.

From Washington Times Aug. 11, 2023

There were also calls from the Sikh community in Canada for the ban on the wearing of turbans to be lifted.

From BBC Jul. 30, 2023

Men with long beards and crisp turbans hung off the sides, pointing in their direction.

From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai

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