Sunni
noun
Sun·ni
ˈsu̇(n)-(ˌ)nē 
1
: the Muslims of the branch of Islam that adheres to the orthodox tradition and acknowledges the first four caliphs as rightful successors of Muhammad compare shia
2
: a Sunni Muslim
Sunni
adjective
Examples of Sunni in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As a Sunni Islamist group, Hamas has had an even looser relationship with Iran.
—
Joost Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024
The declaration was met with loud protests from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) party backed by Khan.
—Reuters, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2024
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Sharif secured 201 votes, defeating Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council who got 92 votes.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024
The Sunni Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia, are insisting on that as a condition for their support for the revitalization of the PA and the reconstruction of Gaza, as is the rest of the international community.
—Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Iran has built closer ties with the group in recent years; unlike all of Tehran’s other allies in the region, Hamas is a Sunni Muslim organization, rather than a Shiite one.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 24 Jan. 2024
For instance, Jaish al-Adl, an armed Sunni Islamist group, is active in Sistan and Baluchistan Province.
—Susanna Hoffman, National Review, 9 Jan. 2024
General Suleimani had directed the crucial role played by Iran and its allies in the military defeat in Syria and Iraq of the Islamic State, a Sunni Muslim extremist group that sees Iran’s Shiite Muslim majority as heretics.
—Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2024
The Tehran regime has many internal enemies, including Sunni Islamist groups that specialize in mass-casualty attacks.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 3 Jan. 2024
Joost Hiltermann, Foreign Affairs, 28 Mar. 2024
The declaration was met with loud protests from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) party backed by Khan.
—Reuters, NBC News, 3 Mar. 2024
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Sharif secured 201 votes, defeating Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council who got 92 votes.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024
The Sunni Arab states, led by Saudi Arabia, are insisting on that as a condition for their support for the revitalization of the PA and the reconstruction of Gaza, as is the rest of the international community.
—Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Iran has built closer ties with the group in recent years; unlike all of Tehran’s other allies in the region, Hamas is a Sunni Muslim organization, rather than a Shiite one.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 24 Jan. 2024
For instance, Jaish al-Adl, an armed Sunni Islamist group, is active in Sistan and Baluchistan Province.
—Susanna Hoffman, National Review, 9 Jan. 2024
General Suleimani had directed the crucial role played by Iran and its allies in the military defeat in Syria and Iraq of the Islamic State, a Sunni Muslim extremist group that sees Iran’s Shiite Muslim majority as heretics.
—Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2024
The Tehran regime has many internal enemies, including Sunni Islamist groups that specialize in mass-casualty attacks.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 3 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Sunni.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near Sunni
Cite this Entry
“Sunni.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Sunni. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Sunni
noun
Sun·ni
ˈsu̇n-(n)ē
plural Sunnis or Sunni
1
: one of the two main branches of Islam
2
: a Muslim who is a member of the Sunni branch of Islam
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