muezzin

noun

mu·​ez·​zin mü-ˈe-zᵊn How to pronounce muezzin (audio)
myü-;
ˈmwe-zᵊn
: a Muslim crier who calls the hour of daily prayers

Examples of muezzin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7 have killed more than 100 preachers, including religious scholars, imams, muezzins (those who perform the call to prayer), and hafiz (Muslims who have memorized the Quran), according to the ministry. Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 The call of the muezzin, summoning Muslims to prayer, echoed through the valley dotted with olive trees. Claire Parker, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2024 At the Sabarmati, the early-evening muezzin calls began to rise from the Old City. Daniel Brook, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023 Among the 26 different structures that were specifically built for this project was a mosque where tourists could hear the muezzin – one who makes the call to prayer – call the adhan from the minaret and then watch Muslim worshippers perform their daily prayers. Leila Tarakji, The Conversation, 21 June 2023 Moments later, a muezzin called Muslims to early afternoon prayers. Aijaz Hussain, ajc, 28 Feb. 2023 On a recent afternoon, around two dozen ex-students from Kayaphuri and other Rohingya-run schools recently shut down were playing marbles as a mosque loudspeaker broadcast the muezzin’s call to prayer. New York Times, 2 May 2022 The same year brought many popular and authentic Muslim exhibitions to the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, including a working mosque and real muezzin. Daniel Pipes, WSJ, 29 Sep. 2020 The call to prayer begins with the voice of one muezzin, quickly joined by others to become a crescendo of calls that envelops us from the surrounding 36 mosques. Nicola Chilton, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Jan. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'muezzin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Arabic mu'adhdhin

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of muezzin was in 1585

Dictionary Entries Near muezzin

Cite this Entry

“Muezzin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muezzin. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

muezzin

noun
mu·​ez·​zin m(y)ü-ˈez-ᵊn How to pronounce muezzin (audio)
: a crier who summons Muslims to prayer

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