# Khan

/ˈkɑn/ (US) · /kˈɑːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/khan
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. historical ruler

noun · CEFR B2

a title for a powerful ruler of Mongol or Turkic peoples in the past.

For teachers: a historical title for a sovereign or military ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples during the Middle Ages.

- Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire and became one of history's most famous leaders.
- The historical records detail how the local khan maintained authority over the nomadic tribes through a complex system of alliances and tributes.

### 2. man of rank

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a title used for a nobleman or a man of high social rank in some Muslim countries.

For teachers: a title of respect or rank for a nobleman or official in various Central and South Asian countries.

- In the village, the khan was respected by everyone for his wisdom and wealth.
- The local khan presided over the council, acting as a mediator for disputes between the landowning families of the province.

### 3. roadside inn

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a traditional inn or hotel for travellers, especially in the Middle East.

For teachers: a caravanserai or traditional roadside inn where travellers could rest and recover from a day's journey.

- The tired merchants stopped at a small khan to rest their camels for the night.
- The ruins of the ancient stone khan still stand along the former silk route, once providing sanctuary to hundreds of traders annually.

## Examples

- The great Khan ruled over a vast empire.
- Historians study how the Mongol Khan managed to unite various nomadic tribes under a single legal code.
- The expansion of the empire under the Great Khan facilitated unprecedented trade and cultural exchange across the Silk Road, connecting the East with the West through a period of relative stability.

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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.