sultan
Americannoun
-
the sovereign of an Islamic country.
-
(often initial capital letter) any of the former sovereigns of Turkey.
-
any absolute ruler or despot.
noun
-
the sovereign of a Muslim country, esp of the former Ottoman Empire
-
an arbitrary ruler; despot
-
a small domestic fowl with a white crest and heavily feathered legs and feet: originated in Turkey
Other Word Forms
- sultan-like adjective
- sultanic adjective
- sultanlike adjective
- sultanship noun
Etymology
Origin of sultan
1545–55; < Middle French < Turkish < Arabic sulṭān sovereign
Explanation
Use the noun sultan when you talk about the king of a Muslim country. It's most commonly used to refer to the sultans of Turkey's Ottoman Empire. There are some countries today that still use the term sultan for a ruler or nobleman, including Oman and Malaysia. However, the word comes up most often in a historical context, especially when you're talking about the former Ottoman Empire, where the title of sultan was inherited, passed from father to son. The word sultan has many different meanings in Arabic, including "strength," "ruler," "king," "queen," and "power."
Vocabulary lists containing sultan
English Words Derived from Arabic
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Southeast Asia - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Southeast Asia - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
She presented herself as a wealthy, illegitimate daughter of the sultan of Brunei, initially showering Mr Hornigold, his then-partner Heather Kaniuk and his friends with lavish gifts, from cars to homes.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2025
Words such as "sultan" and "shrine" are disappearing from place names - to be replaced with terms such as "harmony" and "happiness", according to the research, which is based on China's own published data.
From BBC • Jun. 20, 2024
The R&B-influenced prince of pop and sultan of FCC-friendly innuendo is a direct disciple of Michael Jackson.
From Seattle Times • May 3, 2024
Nevertheless, they hold a secret vote but the ballot only has the name of the sultan whose turn it is.
From Reuters • Oct. 26, 2023
I will use a flower petal for paper, And write you the sweetest letter, You are the sultan of my heart, the sultan of my heart.
From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
