English Reference

Word

islamist

Phoneticsis·lamist

/ˈɪsɫəmɪst/

Definitions

01political supporter

B2

n. someone who believes that Islamic law should be the basis for a country's government and politics.

n. a supporter of Islamism, specifically one who advocates for the implementation of Islamic law in the political and social spheres.

“The election was won by an Islamist who promised to change the country's laws.”

“Political analysts debated whether the newly elected Islamist would moderate his stance once in power or pursue a strict religious agenda.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

secularist

02political movement

B2

adj. relating to the belief that Islam should guide a country's laws and government.

adj. relating to or supporting Islamism as a political ideology.

“Several Islamist groups joined together to protest the new government policy.”

“The rise of Islamist movements in the region has significantly altered the geopolitical landscape over the last three decades.”

Antonyms

03scholar

C1

n. a person who studies the religion, history, or culture of Islam.

n. an academic or specialist who focuses on Islamic studies, history, or theology.

“The university invited a famous Islamist to speak about ancient history.”

“As a leading Islamist, she has published several influential papers on the evolution of jurisprudence in the early caliphate.”

Formal

Usage

In modern contexts, this sense is often replaced by 'Islamic scholar' to avoid confusion with political meanings.

Teaching tip

Note that in modern news, this word almost always refers to politics; using it for a scholar may cause confusion.

Synonyms

Etymology

From Islam + -ist. Compare Islamicist.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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