Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Taleban

Taleban

4 8.5
An armed Islamic group that controlled parts of Afghanistan and enforced strict religious rules
  • proper noun
  • /ˈtɑːləbɑːn/
  • Literature
: talibán
  • During its rule, the Taleban imposed severe penalties for those who violated their interpretation of Islamic law.

Examples

  • The Taleban enforced their rules on women, restricting their rights and freedoms.

  • After more than a decade of successfully resisting the U.S.-led invasion and occupation, the Taleban and its allies will, in the next 18 months, return to power in Afghanistan.

    Blog text (12)

  • The sudden appearance on the Afghan scene in October 1994 of the so-called Taleban ("student") militia has prompted numerous reports that Pakistan is behind that group's striking military success, including at least a momentary victory over the forces of Hekmatyar.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Afghanistan faced many challenges when the Taleban took control and implemented strict interpretations of Islamic law.

Synonyms

Taliban
vsTaleban
418 7.3

An Islamic group from Afghanistan that controls the country and imposes very strict religious rules

is the same meaning but is an alternative spelling of the name

Surface Forms

Taleban main

Etymology

Taleban comes from the Pashto and Arabic word talib, which means 'student', and the ending -an makes it plural. So Taleban originally meant 'students'—in this case religious students from schools—and the name later became used for the militant group they formed.