Hussein

American  

[hoo-seyn] / hʊˈseɪn /

noun

1. Also Hosein; Husain al-Husayn, a.d. 629?–680, Arabian caliph, the son of Ali and Fatima and the brother of Hasan.

2. Saddam at-Takriti, 1937–2006, Iraqi political leader: president 1979–2003.

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Hussein British  

/ hʊˈseɪn /

noun

1. Also: Husain.  1935–99, king of Jordan (1952–99)

2. Saddam (sæˈdæm). 1937–2006, Iraqi politician: president (1979–2003) and prime minister (1994–2003) of Iraq. He led Iraq into the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88) and the Gulf War (1991) but was deposed and captured in the US-led invasion of 2003; executed 2006

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Example Sentences

Dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990 and threatened to roll into Saudi Arabia, seeking control of nearly a third of the world’s proven oil reserves.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

More recently, a statue of Saddam Hussein famously met the same fate.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

In Iraq, Saddam Hussein built dozens of palaces for top-level Bath party officials, Republican Guard leadership, and members of his family and inner circle.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

Hussein Duwaima, whose original clothes shop was destroyed, said life was coming back "gradually" in Gaza and demand has picked up ahead of the holiday as crowds of shoppers pack makeshift markets.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

In Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the United States had routed the forces of Saddam Hussein in Kuwait.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell