AYATOLLAH Definition & Meaning

ayatollah

[ ah-yuh-toh-luh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

ayatollah

/ ˌ��ɪəˈ��ɒ��ə /

noun

one of a class of Iranian Shiite religious leaders

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of ayatollah¹

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

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of ayatollah¹

via Persian from Arabic, from aya sign + Allah god

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“We agree that the ayatollahs must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons. We also agreed that Iran’s aggression in the region has to be rolled back.”

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The narrative of Jimmy Carter being overwhelmed by inflation and Iran’s ayatollah fails to account for his many achievements.

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For the record, Carter got the hostages home alive without breaking any laws or selling arms to the ayatollah, but by then Reagan was being inaugurated.

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Over the next four years he is overwhelmed and over-matched by inflation and Iran’s ayatollah.

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

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