Definition of sheikh
1 : an Arab chief
2 usually sheik : a man held to be irresistibly attractive to romantic young women
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of sheikh from the Web
-
The implication was clear: Zawahiri was preparing Hamza, the sheikh’s son, to lead.
-
Saudi sheikhs have even argued that women who drive damage their ovaries and thus bear children with medical problems.
-
Although the sheikh soon dies, two roguish members of the caravan, Saïd (Aagli) and Ahmed (Ahmed Hammoud), who seem to have had plans to steal from the dead man, claim to know the way through the mountains.
-
The plot concerns a caravan in Morocco that's escorting a dying sheikh to the medieval city of Sijilmasa, where he will be buried.
-
In 2004, a group of Iraqi sheikhs asked Mattis angrily when the Americans were planning on leaving the country.
-
The International Olympic Committee is yet to announce a formal ethics investigation into the sheikh, who was widely credited for helping Thomas Bach win the IOC presidency in 2013.
-
The sheikh was widely credited for helping Thomas Bach win the IOC presidency in 2013.
-
The sheikh was widely credited for helping Thomas Bach win the IOC presidency in 2013.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sheikh.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of sheikh
Arabic shaykh
SHEIKH Defined for English Language Learners
SHEIKH Defined for Kids
sheikh
playsheik
\ˈshēk, ˈshāk\Definition of sheikh for Students
1 : an Arab chief
2 : a leader of a Muslim group
Learn More about sheikh
-
See words that rhyme with sheikh Spanish Central: Translation of sheikh Nglish: Translation of sheikh for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sheikh for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sheikh
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up sheikh? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!