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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• turban-like
  adjective
• turbaned
  adjective
• turbanless
  adjective
• turbanlike
  adjective
• unturbaned
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• turbans
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

turban turbans

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

Related Words

• bandana
• hat