ayatollah

[ ah-yuh-toh-luh ]

noun

1. (among Shiʿites) a title in the religious hierarchy achieved by scholars who have demonstrated highly advanced knowledge of Islamic law and religion.

ayatollah

/ ˌaɪəˈtɒlə /

noun

1. one of a class of Iranian Shiite religious leaders

Word History and Origins

Origin of ayatollah¹

1975–80; < Persian < Arabic āyat allāh sign of God; Allah

Word History and Origins

Origin of ayatollah¹

via Persian from Arabic, from aya sign + Allah god

Example Sentences

The ayatollahs who call Israel the Little Satan and America the Great Satan have bigger ambitions than just destroying the Jewish state.

From Los Angeles Times

The Jewish state, founded on the promise of providing a safe refuge for the Jewish people, cannot allow the ayatollahs to attain the means to fulfill Khamenei’s genocidal prophesy.

From Los Angeles Times

Analysts say the aging ayatollah is sufficiently pragmatic to seek to avoid wider conflagration, as long as the proxies will be able to step up.

From Los Angeles Times

Unlike the Shiites of Iran and Iraq, Yemen’s Zaydis never had ayatollahs.

From Salon

The ayatollah was speaking at a memorial event for Mr. Raisi and the other victims at the Imam Khomeini Hosseinieh, an important religious site in the capital, Tehran, where Mr. Khamenei regularly holds meetings.

From New York Times