Uyghur

American  

[wee-goor] / ˈwi gʊər /

(Older Spelling) Uighur,

noun

• Uyghurs,
  plural
• Uyghur
  plural

1. a member of a predominantly Muslim Turkic-speaking people, dominant in Mongolia and eastern Turkestan from the 8th to 12th centuries a.d., and now living in northwestern China, mainly in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

2. the Turkic language of the Uyghurs.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Uyghurs or their language.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Uyghurian
  adjective
• Uyghuric
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Uyghur
  plural
• Uyghurs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Uyghur

First recorded in 1840–45; from Uyghur; a self-designation of the Uyghur people

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Uyghur Uyghurs

In an interview with the New York Times, family friend Adam Nijiati said that Aikebaer was part of a small Uyghur community where he resided with his wife and three daughters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

Rubio, who has never visited China, was an outspoken critic of Beijing's human rights record while a senator, championing legislation that brought sanctions over Beijing's alleged use of forced labor from the Uyghur minority.

From Barron's ● May 5, 2026

Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, chair of the Uyghur Tribunal, which is investigating atrocities against the minority group, was also sanctioned, as was Newcastle University academic Jo Smith Finley, whose research focuses on the Uyghurs.

From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2026

The crackdown on Christians fits a broader pattern that in recent years has included the persecution of Tibetan Buddhists, Uyghur Muslims, and members of smaller groups such as Falun Gong.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025

In Xinjiang, around a million Uyghur Muslims have been detained in “re-education” camps, as is well documented.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025

One focus, in particular, was Uyghurs who have joined the newly formed Syrian Army.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Beijing has been accused of detaining more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslims since 2017, part of a campaign that the United Nations previously said could constitute crimes against humanity.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

Uyghurs, a Turkic minority, hail from China's westernmost province, Xinjiang.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

Uyghurs and other Chinese nationals who have exposed Beijing’s human-rights abuses are another.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

The prime minister has confirmed to the BBC that he did raise the Lai case and the treatment of Uyghurs "as you would expect" with President Xi.

From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2026