emir

noun

i-ˈmir 

ā-

variants or amir or less commonly ameer

: a ruler, chief, or commander in Islamic countries

Examples of emir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Biden contacted Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi and the emir of Qatar, urging the Arab countries to press Hamas harder for a deal. —Claire Parker, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024

Watching on from the VIP section was Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. —James Robson, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2024

For Qatar’s emir at the time, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, winning the rights to host the tournament was a huge coup, advancing his plan to diversify the country’s gas-rich economy, wash away criticisms of its human-rights record, and position Qatar as a serious global power. —Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2022

The emir was known for pardoning dissidents in 2021 and again this year in an attempt to quell internal divisions. —Mallory Moench, Time, 16 Dec. 2023

This conversation came after Qatar’s emir and Bahrain’s king attended a small Arab summit hosted by the UAE’s president in Abu Dhabi last week that was also attended by the rulers of Oman, Jordan and Egypt. —Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 27 Jan. 2023

Meanwhile, Biden held calls this morning with the emir of Qatar and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. —NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024

Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in as emir in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic after the death of his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. —Jon Gambrell The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 17 Dec. 2023

The official added that Biden has had several calls with the Israeli prime minister and the emir of Qatar on the release of all remaining hostages. —NBC News, 14 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Arabic amīr commander

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

emir

noun

i-ˈmi(ə)r 

ā-

: a ruler, chief, or commander in Islamic countries

Etymology

from Arabic amīr "commander"