Sunni
noun
Sun·ni
ˈsu̇(n)-(ˌ)nē 
1
: the Muslims of the branch of Islam that adheres to the orthodox tradition and acknowledges the first four caliphs as rightful successors of Muhammad compare shia
2
: a Sunni Muslim
Sunni
adjective
Examples of Sunni in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In particular, Ankara’s approval of the governance structure that emerges will bolster its popular legitimacy in the Sunni Muslim world.
—
Asli Aydintasbas, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2024
Hamas is also a Sunni group, as opposed to Shiite Hezbollah, which put the two groups on opposite sides of the Syrian civil war, with Hamas backing the anti-Assad rebels.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 11 May 2024
Officer Masood Syed, a Sunni Muslim who had been suspended for refusing to trim his one-inch beard to 1 mm.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2024
This rhetoric now holds fresh appeal for regional audiences who were otherwise unsympathetic toward a Shiite theocracy and gives Iran a convenient opportunity to shame its Sunni Arab rivals.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
As a Sunni Islamist group, Hamas has had an even looser relationship with Iran.
—Joost Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024
The declaration was met with loud protests from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) party backed by Khan.
—Reuters, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2024
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Sharif secured 201 votes, defeating Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council who got 92 votes.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024
The Sunni Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia, are insisting on that as a condition for their support for the revitalization of the PA and the reconstruction of Gaza, as is the rest of the international community.
—Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Asli Aydintasbas, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2024
Hamas is also a Sunni group, as opposed to Shiite Hezbollah, which put the two groups on opposite sides of the Syrian civil war, with Hamas backing the anti-Assad rebels.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 11 May 2024
Officer Masood Syed, a Sunni Muslim who had been suspended for refusing to trim his one-inch beard to 1 mm.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2024
This rhetoric now holds fresh appeal for regional audiences who were otherwise unsympathetic toward a Shiite theocracy and gives Iran a convenient opportunity to shame its Sunni Arab rivals.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
As a Sunni Islamist group, Hamas has had an even looser relationship with Iran.
—Joost Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024
The declaration was met with loud protests from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) party backed by Khan.
—Reuters, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2024
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Sharif secured 201 votes, defeating Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council who got 92 votes.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024
The Sunni Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia, are insisting on that as a condition for their support for the revitalization of the PA and the reconstruction of Gaza, as is the rest of the international community.
—Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Sunni.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near Sunni
Cite this Entry
“Sunni.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Sunni. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Sunni
noun
Sun·ni
ˈsu̇n-(n)ē
plural Sunnis or Sunni
1
: one of the two main branches of Islam
2
: a Muslim who is a member of the Sunni branch of Islam
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