ulema

noun

ule·​ma ˌü-lə-ˈmä 

variants or ulama

1

plural in construction : the body of mullahs

2

: mullah

Examples of ulema in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the Ottoman Empire integrated the ulema into the state bureaucracy. —Daron Acemoglu, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2014

Islamic law is supposed to allow for a religious-legal establishment, the ulema, that would constrain rulers. —Daron Acemoglu, Foreign Affairs, 22 May 2014

The ulema’s aim in doing so was to prevent chaos in the yet fledgling Arab Muslim community. —Mohammed Ayoob, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2016

Head scarves were banned in public buildings; the state selected the country’s clergy, or ulema, and closely monitored their sermons for the slightest expression of religiosity; prayer beads or facial hair were viewed with suspicion. —New York Times, 12 May 2022

The conservative ulema felt that these philosophers were inappropriately influenced by Greek philosophy and Shia Islam against Sunni beliefs. —Ahmet T. Kuru, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2020

Jokowi said the conference was part of Indonesia's efforts to encourage the role of Islamic clerics, or ulema, in promoting peace in Afghanistan. —Fox News, 11 May 2018

But there has been a definite uptick in the targeted killing of scholars — widely known as ulema — as the Taliban have intensified their offensives in the past two years, officials say. —Mujib Mashal and Jawad Sukhanyar, New York Times, 28 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Arabic, Turkish, & Persian; Turkish & Persian ʽulemā, from Arabic ʽulamā

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ulema

• edema
• extrema
• cima
• pima
• prima
• rima
• schema
• sema
• sima
• thema
• emphysema
• empyema