sultan

noun

sul·​tan ˈsəl-tᵊn How to pronounce sultan (audio)
Synonyms of sultannext
: a king or sovereign especially of a Muslim state
sultanic
ˌsəl-ˈta-nik How to pronounce sultan (audio)
adjective

Examples of sultan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Beren serves all the mezza favorites like hummus, babaghanoush, feta and pink sultan (a red beet dip). — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026 Putin also met with Brunei’s sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah. — Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026 They were welcomed by Oman’s foreign minister at the airport and are set to meet with Oman’s sultan for discussions. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 June 2026 This 12th century sage was also a rabbi, researcher, doctor, philosopher and court physician to the Egyptian sultan. — Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sultan

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Arabic sulṭān

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sultan was in 1555

Browse Nearby Words

sultam
sultan
sultana
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sultan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sultan. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sultan

noun
sul·​tan ˈsəlt-ᵊn How to pronounce sultan (audio)
: a king or ruler especially of a Muslim state

More from Merriam-Webster on sultan

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sultan

Nglish: Translation of sultan for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sultan

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