mujahideen

plural noun

mu·​ja·​hid·​een mü-ˌjä-hi-ˈdēn 

mu̇-,

-ˌja-

variants or mujahedin or less commonly mujahedeen

: Islamic guerrilla fighters especially in the Middle East

Examples of mujahideen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 1980s saw collaboration in arming Afghan resistance fighters (the mujahideen) during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which further strengthened the U.S.-Chinese security relationship. —William Hurst, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2025

The former Soviet Union fought a 9-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Moscow withdrawing its troops in 1989 following their defeat by the Afghan mujahideen, some of whom later founded the modern Taliban. —Max Saltman, CNN Money, 3 July 2025

In the 1980s, Washington’s support for Afghan mujahideen helped drive out Soviet forces. —Hussein Agha, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025

Altman is right, for example, that the Soviets generally tolerated U.S. assistance to the mujahideen. —Michael Poznansky, Foreign Affairs, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Arabic mujāhidīn, plural of mujāhid, literally, person who wages jihad

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mujahideen

• acetylene
• adenosine
• amphetamine
• anthropocene
• antipyrine
• apomorphine
• apoprotein
• aquamarine
• arsphenamine
• azobenzene
• buprenorphine
• chlorobenzene

Kids Definition

mujahideen

plural noun

mu·​ja·​hid·​een

variants or mujahedin

mü-ˌja-hid-ˈēn 

mu̇-,

-ˌjä-

: Islamic guerrilla fighters especially in the Middle East

Etymology

Arabic mujāhidīn "Islamic guerrilla fighters," plural form of mujahīd "a person who wages Islamic holy war"