hijab

noun

hi·​jab hē-ˈjäb How to pronounce hijab (audio)
-ˈjab
1
plural hijabs : a covering for the hair and neck that is worn by some Muslim women
The website offers Muslim women an array of hijabs for every occasion—including sports—without skimping on quality, comfort, or modest principles.Sara Holzman
While Muslim women wear hijabs to show modesty and piety, every woman has her own reason for wearing a hijab, but Mohammad Zal said many people mistake these reasons for coercion.Christine Fernando
… women are burning their headscarves in the street. … They don't object to the hijab itself; they object to not having the right to choose whether to wear it.Roya Hakakian
… as part of a controversial decade-long effort to curb the public expression of religion, the French Senate voted 160-143 Tuesday in favor of a bill seeking to amend its national Sports Code to ban athletes from wearing religious symbols, such as hijabs … at sports competitions, public swimming pools, and bathing areas.Ananya Upadhya
The dispute began … at a college preparatory school for girls in Udupi, a city in southwestern Karnataka, when teachers there barred several Muslim students from entering their classrooms while wearing hijabs.Sameer Yasir
2
: a set of principles and practices in Islam relating to modesty and morality and especially to covering oneself (as by wearing a hijab)
"… hijab is not just about outer appearances; it is also about noble speech, dignified and righteous conduct, and modesty. …"brochure, quoted in The Houston Chronicle
"Since a majority of my clients are Muslim, some will be observing hijab, which is a religious observance, usually interpreted by wearing a headscarf and dressing modestly. …"Fatin Jarara
Farooqi and others are dressed in classic American volunteer attire—yellow T-shirts emblazoned with a logo—but the men also wear … skullcaps and the women observe hijab, covering their hair and necks with scarves.Harry Bruinius

Examples of hijab in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In France, for example, Muslim women on the host country’s Olympic team are not allowed to wear hijabs. Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2024 Last year, the United Nations’ human rights office criticized the French government for banning French athletes from wearing the hijab at the Paris Olympics. Christiane Amanpour, CNN, 25 July 2024 Inside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection Jan. 4, 2024 Filipino men in barongs and Muslim women in hijabs. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2024 How does France’s hijab ban impact Muslim athletes? Armani Syed, TIME, 19 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for hijab 

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

Word History

Etymology

Arabic ḥijāb cover, screen, veil

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of hijab was in 1885

Dictionary Entries Near hijab

Cite this Entry

“Hijab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hijab. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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