sheikh

noun

ˈshēk How to pronounce sheikh (audio)
also
ˈshāk How to pronounce sheikh (audio)
for sense 1
variants or sheik
Synonyms of sheikhnext
1
: an Arab chief
2
usually sheik : a man held to be irresistibly attractive to romantic young women

Examples of sheikh in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now’s your chance to live like a Middle Eastern sheikh. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2025 When a boy turns sixteen, he is assigned a sheikh from his hometown and studies with him in a local prayer room at the shrine every weekend. — Literary Hub, 4 Mar. 2026 The nearly $3 trillion UAE sovereign-wealth fund, of which more than half is controlled by the spy sheikh, offers an immense pot of money for venture capital. — George Packer, The Atlantic, 4 May 2026 The show revolves around a young man whose life spirals into terrifying events after receiving a mysterious book from an enigmatic sheikh according to promotional materials. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sheikh

Word History

Etymology

Arabic shaykh

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sheikh was in 1577

Rhymes for sheikh

See All Rhymes for sheikh

Browse Nearby Words

shehitah
sheikh
sheikhdom
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sheikh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheikh. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

sheikh

noun
variants or sheik
ˈshēk How to pronounce sheikh (audio)
for sense 1 also
ˈshāk How to pronounce sheikh (audio)
1
a
: an Arab leader, ruler, or prince
b
: a leader of a Muslim organization or group
2
usually sheik : a man supposed to be irresistibly attractive to romantic young women
sheikdom
-dəm
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on sheikh

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sheikh

Nglish: Translation of sheikh for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sheikh

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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