sheikhdom

noun

sheikh·​dom ˈshēk-dəm How to pronounce sheikhdom (audio)
ˈshāk-,
-təm
variants or sheikdom
: a region under the rule of a sheikh

Examples of sheikhdom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The temple nods back in its seven spires, the number of sheikhdoms in this autocratic federation on the Arabian Peninsula. Jon Gambrell, Quartz, 12 Feb. 2024 Sheikh Nawaf’s term was focused on domestic issues as the nation struggled through political disputes — including the overhaul of Kuwait’s welfare system — which prevented the sheikhdom from taking on debt. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 16 Dec. 2023 Over the past half-century, oil has transformed the six once-destitute sheikhdoms into some of the wealthiest places on earth. Jim Krane, Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2014 Alcohol is available in bars and clubs in the United Arab Emirates, the federation of seven sheikhdoms that includes Dubai, but the Muslim country has a large population of teetotalers. Nick El Hajj, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2023 That has seen money, megayachts and Russian citizens come into the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. Nomaan Merchant, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2023 These grand projects are at the heart of a program, said to be worth $12 billion, that the rulers of the United Arab Emirates hope will turn the largest and most oil-rich of the region’s sheikhdoms into a global center for the arts. John Arlidge, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2023 The monastery on Siniyah Island, part of the sand-dune sheikhdom of Umm al-Quwain, sheds new light on the history of early Christianity along the shores of the Persian Gulf. Jon Gambrell, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Nov. 2022 Across the wider Persian Gulf, alcohol remains banned in Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the sheikhdom of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. CBS News, 5 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sheikhdom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sheikhdom was in 1860

Dictionary Entries Near sheikhdom

Cite this Entry

“Sheikhdom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheikhdom. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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