ayatollah

noun

aya·​tol·​lah ˌī-ə-ˈtō-lə  -ˈtä- 

-ˈtə-,

ˈī-ə-ˌtō-,

-ˌtä-,

-ˌtə-

: a religious leader among Shiite Muslims

—used as a title of respect especially for one who is not an imam

Examples of ayatollah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For the moment, at least, Iran's ayatollahs are playing coy. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025

The ayatollah has repeatedly said Iran cannot trust that the United States would honor any bargain, especially after Mr. Trump pulled out of the last agreement to restrain Iran’s program. —David E. Sanger, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2025

Trump conceded that some might accuse him of going easy on the ayatollahs by entering negotiations. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025

Azerbaijan, a majority Shia Muslim but staunchly secular country bordering Iran, has long clashed with the ayatollahs’ theocracy in Tehran. —Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Persian āyatollāh, literally, sign of God, from Arabic āyatallāh, from āya sign, miracle + allāh God

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ayatollah

• variola
• azolla
• canola
• cupola
• ebola
• fasciola
• granola
• victrola
• viola
• bola
• cola
• colla