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

Led by the Sunni Islamist Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham group, which has Al-Qaeda origins, the rebels launched their offensive on November 27, capturing the northern city of Aleppo and the central city of Hama. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024

Aaron Zelin, a senior fellow with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who researches Sunni jihadi groups, has documented HTS’s evolution and that of its leader, Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani. —Laura Kelly, The Hill, 4 Dec. 2024

Ten years ago, the northern-Iraq city of Mosul fell to a Sunni jihadist insurgent group, after the Iraqi army collapsed and then vanished. —Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Dec. 2024

Erdogan swiftly funneled global Sunni Jihadis through Turkey into Syria. —Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024

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