Sunni

noun

Sun·​ni ˈsu̇(n)-(ˌ)nē 

1

: the Muslims of the branch of Islam that adheres to the orthodox tradition and acknowledges the first four caliphs as rightful successors of Muhammad compare shia

2

: a Sunni Muslim

Sunni adjective

Examples of Sunni in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of them far more distinctive than the Palestinians, who are scarcely different from Sunni Lebanese or Syrians (indeed, until the creation of Israel there was no reference to a Palestinian people, any more than there was a Jordanian people). —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025

The city of Homs itself is a microcosm of Syria, where Sunni Muslims are the majority, but also where religious and ethnic diversity has long been a point of cultural and national pride. —Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan. 2025

The Islamic State group follows a hard-line version of Sunni Islam and considers Shiite Muslims to be apostates. —Warren P. Strobel, arkansasonline.com, 26 Jan. 2025

And Alawites at times faced their own attacks and persecution as a minority, particularly by Sunni jihadi rebels. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Arabic sunnī, from sunna

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Sunni

noun

Sun·​ni ˈsu̇n-(n)ē 

plural Sunnis or Sunni

1

: one of the two main branches of Islam

2

: a Muslim who is a member of the Sunni branch of Islam