Islam

noun

Is·​lam is-ˈläm 

iz-,

-ˈlam 

ˈis-ˌläm,

ˈiz-,

-ˌlam

1

: the religious faith of Muslims including belief in Allah as the sole deity and in Muhammad as his prophet

2

a

: the civilization erected upon Islamic faith

b

: the group of modern nations in which Islam is the dominant religion

Islamic

is-ˈlä-mik 

iz-

-ˈla-

adjective

Islamics

is-ˈlä-miks 

iz-

-ˈla-

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

Examples of Islam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bashir, in his twenties, said in an interview in Islam Qala, a border town in western Afghanistan, that he was detained by police in Tehran and whisked to a detention center. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 11 July 2025

In addition to his work at Cincinnati Children’s and Clifton Mosque, Soliman is a board member of the Initiative on Islam and Medicine, which lists him on its website. —Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 11 July 2025

There's also Islam Makhachev who is new to the division, but set to challenge JDM for his title. —Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Under Iran’s last monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the country’s Jewish community numbered as many as 100,000, with roots in Iran that predate the advent of Islam by more than a millennium. —Roya Hakakian, The Atlantic, 10 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Arabic islām submission (to the will of God)

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Islam

• aplomb
• balaam
• cocom
• embalm
• pogrom
• salaam
• sitcom
• balm
• bom
• bomb
• calm
• dom

Kids Definition

Islam

noun

Is·​lam is-ˈläm  iz- 

-ˈlam;

ˈis-ˌläm,

ˈiz-ˌläm,

-ˌlam

1

: a religion marked by belief in Allah as the sole deity, in Muhammad as his prophet, and in the Koran

2

a

: the civilization erected upon Islamic faith

b

: the modern nations in which Islam is the dominant religion

Islamic

is-ˈläm-ik 

iz-

-ˈlam-

adjective