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

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Etymology

Origin of turban

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

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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

He remains true to his Punjabi roots, wears his turban as a sign of pride, and sings in his mother tongue.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

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

The small canvas shows a young woman set on a dark background, her head turned towards the viewer and a pearl earring glinting from beneath her blue and cream turban.

From Barron's ● Jan. 8, 2026

His once striped turban now covered with dust, its tiny mirrors cracked and falling off.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

The latter wore turbans and robes and spoke Arabic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

She’s in one of her signature turbans — this one has a third eye front and center — and holds a cane in the shape of a black cat.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 2026

And, even without recognition, their envoys - in signature traditional turbans and tunics - are among the world's most frequent flyers, jetting to meetings in many capitals.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2023

“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

We had seen Fazlullah’s followers, with their long hair and beards, dressed in black turbans and white shalwar kamiz, in the small towns on the way to visit our family in the mountains.

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

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Related Words

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