khalif

[ kuh-leef, key-lif, kal-if ]
/ kəˈlif, ˈkeɪ lɪf, ˈkæl ɪf /

noun

caliph.
Also kha·li·fa [kuh-lee-fuh] /kəˈli fə/.

Words nearby khalif

khakass republic, khaki, khaki election, khalid, khalid ibn abdul aziz, khalif, khalifate, khalkha, khalkidhikí, khalkidíki, khalkís

Definition for khalif (2 of 2)

caliph

or ca·lif, ka·lif, ka·liph, kha·lif

[ key-lif, kal-if ]
/ ˈkeɪ lɪf, ˈkæl ɪf /

noun

a spiritual leader of Islam, claiming succession from Muhammad.
any of the former Muslim rulers of Baghdad (until 1258) and of the Ottoman Empire (from 1571 until 1924).

Origin of caliph

1350–1400; Middle English caliphe, califfe < Middle French < Medieval Latin calipha < Arabic khalīf(a) successor (of Muhammad), derivative of khalafa succeed

OTHER WORDS FROM caliph

cal·iph·al [kal-uh-fuh l, key-luh-] /ˈkæl ə fəl, ˈkeɪ lə-/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for khalif

British Dictionary definitions for khalif (1 of 2)

khalif
/ (ˈkeɪlɪf, ˈkæl-) /

noun

a variant spelling of caliph

British Dictionary definitions for khalif (2 of 2)

caliph

calif, kalif or khalif

/ (ˈkeɪlɪf, ˈkæl-) /

noun

Islam the title of the successors of Mohammed as rulers of the Islamic world, later assumed by the Sultans of Turkey

Word Origin for caliph

C14: from Old French, from Arabic khalīfa successor