Shiʿah

or Shi·ʿa

[ shee-uh ]
/ ˈʃi ə /

noun Islam.

(used with a plural verb) the Shiʿites.
(used with a singular verb) Shiʿite.

Origin of Shiʿah

First recorded in 1620–30, Shiʿah is from the Arabic word shīʿah literally, sect

Definition for shi'a (2 of 2)

Shiʿite
[ shee-ahyt ]
/ ˈʃi aɪt /

noun Islam.

a member of one of the two great religious divisions of Islam that regards Ali, the son-in-law of Muhammad, as the legitimate successor of Muhammad, and disregards the three caliphs who succeeded him.
Also Shi·ite, Shiʿa, Shiʿah, Shi·ʿi [shee-ee, shee-ee] /ʃiˈi, ˈʃi i/.
Compare Sunni(def 1).

Origin of Shiʿite

OTHER WORDS FROM Shiʿite

Shi·ʿism [shee-iz-uh m] /ˈʃi ɪz əm/, noun Shi·ʿit·ic [shee-it-ik] /ʃiˈɪt ɪk/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for shi'a