Muʽtazilite

noun

Mu·​ʽta·​zi·​lite

variants or Mutazilite

-ˌlīt

plural -s

1

: a Muslim philosophical school founded in the 8th century a.d. emphasizing reason in religious interpretation, free will in opposition to predestination, and the unity and justice of Allah

2

: a member of the Muʽtazilite school

Word History

Etymology

Arabic muʽtazilah + English -ite

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!