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

Shiʿah + -ite¹

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 shiism

Iran belongs to all Iranians; it cannot and must not be reduced to Islam, nor Islam to Shiism or Shiism to Khomeinism.

The Nuclear Deal That Iran’s Regime Fears Most |Djavad Khadem |November 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Alawis are a very unique and distinct Muslim group, which mixes elements of Shiism and Christianity together.

The Battle Within Syria: Who Will Win? |Bruce Riedel |June 12, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
These last matters, however, are rather excrescences than necessary parts of Shiism.

The Future of Islam |Wilfred Scawen Blunt

British Dictionary definitions for shiism

Shiism

/ (ˈʃiːɪzəm) /

noun

Islam the beliefs and practices of Shiah

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