mujaheddin
UK[ˌmʊdʒəhɛˈdiːn]US[ˌmuːdʒəhɛˈdiːn]
n
muslim guerrilla fighters engaged in a jihad or holy war.
Etymology
the term 'mujaheddin' is an english borrowing from the arabic plural 'mujāhidīn', which itself derives from the singular 'mujāhid', meaning 'one who struggles' or 'a holy warrior'. this singular form is the active participle of the verb 'jāhada', signifying 'to strive' or 'to struggle', which is the root of the central islamic concept of 'jihad'. entering english primarily in the late 20th century through media coverage of conflicts in afghanistan and other regions, the word retained its core arabic meaning but became specifically associated with islamic guerrilla fighters engaged in what they perceive as a holy war. its adoption reflects the direct importation of a culturally and religiously specific term for which no precise english equivalent existed.
Analysis
the word is a direct loanword from arabic, borrowed as a single lexical unit. it is the plural form of 'mujahid'.
Examples
during the soviet-afghan war, the mujaheddin received support from various foreign powers.
the term mujaheddin encompasses a diverse array of groups with differing ideologies and goals.
journalists reported on the mujaheddin's tactics in the mountainous regions.