# sultan

/ˈsəɫtən/ (US) · /sˈʌltən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sultan
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a ruler

noun · CEFR B2

the king or ruler of a Muslim country.

For teachers: a sovereign or ruler of a Muslim state, historically associated with the Ottoman Empire and currently used in nations like Brunei and Oman.

- The sultan lived in a beautiful palace in the center of the city.
- The sultan issued a royal decree that reformed the nation's land ownership laws to encourage foreign investment.

### 2. historical office

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a powerful leader in history who held political power in a large empire.

For teachers: a historical title for a secular ruler who exercised authority over a territory, often formally subordinate to a caliph but holding actual political power.

- Historians study how the sultan managed his vast empire during the Middle Ages.
- While the caliph remained the spiritual figurehead, the sultan exercised absolute administrative and military control over the province.

### 3. ornamental chicken

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of decorative chicken that originally came from Turkey.

For teachers: a specific breed of crested chicken originating in Turkey, primarily kept for ornamental purposes in gardens.

- The farmer kept a few sultans because of their unique white feathers.
- The Sultan breed is easily identified by its heavy feathering, five toes, and large globular crest.

## Examples

- The sultan lived in a beautiful palace.
- During the 16th century, the sultan issued a decree that changed the laws of the entire empire.
- Historians often study the administrative reforms enacted by the sultan to understand how such a vast and diverse territory remained unified for centuries.

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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.