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

The area, known to Muslims as Al-Haram Al-Sharif, is considered the third holiest site in Islam. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 June 2026

On Sunday, roughly 200 hard-line Israeli activists stormed one of the holiest sites of Islam, the al-Aqsa mosque. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 June 2026

Often at odds with orthodoxy, this branch of Islam looks at the relationship between the divine and the self through the lens of surrender, to the point where one’s own identity dissolves. — Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026

Eid al-Adha is one of the holiest days in Islam and commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God before God provided an animal to sacrifice instead. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026

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
• begam
• cocom
• embalm
• pogrom
• salaam
• sitcom
• balm
• bom
• bomb
• calm

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