Shiʽa

noun

variants: or Shia or Shiah \ˈshē(ˌ)ä, -ēə\

Definition of Shiʽa

plural -s

1 : the Muslims of the branch of Islam comprising sects believing in Ali and the Imams as the only rightful successors of Muhammad and in the concealment and messianic return of the last recognized Imam — compare sunni

2 : shiʽite

3 : the branch of Islam formed by the Shiʽa

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Origin and Etymology of shiʽa

Arabic shīʽah following, sect

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1626

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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