Islam

noun

Is·​lam is-ˈläm 

iz-,

-ˈlam 

ˈis-ˌläm,

ˈiz-,

-ˌlam

1

: the religious faith of Muslims including belief in Allah as the sole deity and in Muhammad as his prophet

2

a

: the civilization erected upon Islamic faith

b

: the group of modern nations in which Islam is the dominant religion

Islamic

is-ˈlä-mik 

iz-

-ˈla-

adjective

Islamics

is-ˈlä-miks 

iz-

-ˈla-

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction

Examples of Islam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Was the Nation of Islam responsible for assassinating Malcolm in 1965? —John Blake, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025

But research has shown that across skill levels, immigrants and U.S.-born workers aren’t crowding each other out of the job market, said Samia Islam, a professor of economics at Boise State University. —Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 1 Mar. 2025

According to Islam, fasting draws the faithful closer to God and reminds them of the suffering of the poor. —Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025

Ramadan, the most sacred month in Islam, kicks off at sundown and concludes on Sunday, March 30 with a grand celebration, Eid al-Fitr. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Arabic islām submission (to the will of God)

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Islam

• aplomb
• balaam
• cocom
• embalm
• pogrom
• salaam
• sitcom
• balm
• bom
• bomb
• calm
• dom

Kids Definition

Islam

noun

Is·​lam is-ˈläm  iz- 

-ˈlam;

ˈis-ˌläm,

ˈiz-ˌläm,

-ˌlam

1

: a religion marked by belief in Allah as the sole deity, in Muhammad as his prophet, and in the Koran

2

a

: the civilization erected upon Islamic faith

b

: the modern nations in which Islam is the dominant religion

Islamic

is-ˈläm-ik 

iz-

-ˈlam-

adjective