# Shah

/ˈʃɑ/ (US) · /ʃˈɑː/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. monarch of Iran

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the title of the king who ruled Iran until 1979.

For teachers: the title of the former hereditary monarch of Iran, specifically referring to the Pahlavi dynasty in modern historical contexts.

- The last Shah of Iran left the country during the revolution in 1979.
- Historical accounts of the mid-twentieth century often focus on the geopolitical alliances formed by the Shah before the revolution.

### 2. historical Asian ruler

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

a title for a king or supreme ruler in some other Asian countries in the past.

For teachers: a title for a supreme ruler or sovereign in various historical West Asian, Central Asian, or South Asian polities.

- Ancient texts describe the power held by the local shah over the valley.
- The regional shah maintained a degree of autonomy from the central empire through strategic marriage alliances and tribute payments.

## Examples

- The Shah ruled the country for many years.
- Historical documents from the mid-twentieth century often discuss the political reforms introduced by the last Shah of Iran.
- The revolution of 1979 marked the end of the monarchy, leading to the exile of the Shah and a fundamental shift in the nation's governance.

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