emir

noun

i-ˈmir How to pronounce emir (audio)
ā-
variants or amir or less commonly ameer
: a ruler, chief, or commander in Islamic countries

Examples of emir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, Biden held calls this morning with the emir of Qatar and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024 Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in as emir in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic after the death of his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. Jon Gambrell The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 17 Dec. 2023 The official added that Biden has had several calls with the Israeli prime minister and the emir of Qatar on the release of all remaining hostages. NBC News, 14 Dec. 2023 As an agreement began to take shape, CIA director William Burns met in Qatar with David Barnea, the head of the Mossad, and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the country's emir, on Nov. 9. Anna Schecter, NBC News, 24 Nov. 2023 President Joe Biden and Qatar’s ruling emir, Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, spoke on Tuesday, discussing the urgent effort to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, including American citizens. Najib Jobain, Wafaa Shurafa, and Samy Magdy, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Dec. 2023 President Joe Biden and Qatar's ruling emir, Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, spoke on Tuesday, discussing the urgent effort to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, including American citizens. Najib Jobain, arkansasonline.com, 27 Dec. 2023 The emir of the oil-rich country, sandwiched between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, had ruled for three years. Mallory Moench, Time, 16 Dec. 2023 The ruling emir of the oil-rich nation Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, has died at the age of 86, just over three years after assuming power, Kuwaiti state TV announced. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 16 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'emir.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Arabic amīr commander

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of emir was in 1542

Dictionary Entries Near emir

Cite this Entry

“Emir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emir. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

emir

noun
: a ruler, chief, or commander in Islamic countries
Etymology

from Arabic amīr "commander"

More from Merriam-Webster on emir

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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