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Shi'ite

Shi'ite

2 7.2
A person who follows the branch of Islam that sees Ali as Muhammad's next leader
  • noun
  • /ʃiˈaɪt/
translation icon : chiíta
  • Many of the movement's founders studied in seminaries in Iraq, and Lebanese Shi'ites maintain ties with their Iraqi brethren.
  • Iraqi Shi'ites

Examples

  • Every year, Shi'ites march in a procession mourning the sacrifice of their founder, Husayn.

  • During the elections, Shi'ites expressed their political views openly, advocating for their rights and representation.

  • Most importantly, Azerbaijan, although traditionally Shi'ite, was much closer to modern Turkey than the Central Asian republics were.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Hosain's father, Ali, was the only caliph to be recognized by both Shi'ites and Sunnis.

    Academic text (2003)
  • The Kurds in the North and the Shi'ites in the South were powerless against Saddam's war machine once the coalition forces withdrew their support.

    Academic text (1995)
  • "They will defend people of districts: Sunnis, Shi'ites, Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmen.

    Blog text (1)
  • Every year, Shi'ites commemorate Ashura with processions and ceremonies to remember the martyrdom of Husayn.

  • The community center offers support services tailored specifically for Shi'ites seeking cultural and religious education.

Synonyms

Shiite
vsShi'ite
40 7.9

A Muslim who follows the group that accepts Ali as Muhammad's successor

is the fuller phrase highlighting the belief, not just the label
Shiite Muslim
vsShi'ite
5 4.9

A Muslim who believes Ali was the rightful leader after Muhammad

is the form that differs only by punctuation or spacing
Shia Muslim
vsShi'ite
1 4.1

A follower of Islam who believes Ali should have been leader after Muhammad and rejects the first three leaders

is the more literal phrase matching the formal description
Shi'ite Muslim
vsShi'ite
4.4

A Muslim who believes Ali was the rightful leader after Muhammad

is the version without this punctuation difference
Shiah
vsShi'ite
8.3

A Muslim who follows the group that believes Ali and his family should lead after Muhammad

is broader, naming followers by succession without regional detail

Compounds

A Muslim who believes Ali was the rightful leader after Muhammad

Surface Forms

Shi'ite singular
Shi'ites plural

Morphology

Shi'ite = Shia (transparent) = Shia + ite

Formed by adding the productive English suffix '-ite' to 'Shia' to denote a follower or member, so the meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Shi'ite comes from the Arabic word Shīʿa, which means 'followers' or 'party' and first named the people who followed Ali as the leader after Muhammad. So, a Shi'ite today is someone who belongs to the branch of Islam that sees Ali as the leader after Muhammad.