ayatollah

American

[ah-yuh-toh-luh] / ˌɑ yəˈtoʊ lə /

noun

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

ayatollah British

/ ˌaɪəˈtɒlə /

noun

one of a class of Iranian Shiite religious leaders

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ayatollah

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

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.

This was the ayatollah’s policy, for which he has made his people suffer for two decades.

From The Wall Street Journal

Iranian state television announced a 40-day mourning period and seven public holidays following the ayatollah's death.

From Barron's

That left Khamenei as a top candidate, even though he was not an ayatollah, as the constitution demanded.

From Los Angeles Times

He also gave Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ample chance to strike a deal on nuclear weapons and its missile force, but the ayatollah refused.

From The Wall Street Journal

Both are fine ideas, but they would amount to paper promises that the ayatollah would be unlikely to honor.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023