sharif

noun

sha·​rif shə-ˈrēf How to pronounce sharif (audio)
variants or less commonly sherif
: a descendant of the prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima
broadly : one of noble ancestry or political preeminence in predominantly Islamic countries
sharifian adjective

Examples of sharif 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.
The unlikely kingdom was a consolation prize for Abdullah, the second son of Hussein, the sharif of Mecca, whose family, the Hashemites, were descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. Ursula Lindsey, The New York Review of Books, 22 Oct. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Arabic sharīf, literally, illustrious

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sharif was in 1599

Dictionary Entries Near sharif

Cite this Entry

“Sharif.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sharif. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Biographical Definition

Sharif

biographical name

Sha·​rif shä-ˈrēf How to pronounce Sharif (audio)
Nawaz 1949–     prime minister of Pakistan (1990–93; 1997–99; 2013–2017)

More from Merriam-Webster on sharif

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!