# caliphate

/kˈælɪfˌeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/caliphate
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a state or area ruled by a leader called a caliph, who is considered a religious and political successor to the Prophet Muhammad.

For teachers: the office or jurisdiction of a caliph, representing a system of Islamic governance that combines religious and political authority. Refers to both the historical empires and the abstract concept of a unified Islamic state.

## Examples

- Historians study the rise and fall of the Abbasid caliphate.
- The expansion of the early caliphate across the Middle East and North Africa significantly influenced global trade and culture.
- Scholars often distinguish between the historical reality of the Umayyad caliphate and the idealized theological concepts of leadership that developed in later centuries.

## Usage notes

- Often capitalized when referring to a specific historical period or empire.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.