Shiite
UK[ˈʃiːaɪt]US[ˈʃiːaɪt]
n
A member of one of the two main branches of Islam, who believe that Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, was his rightful successor.
Etymology
The term originates from the Arabic Shīʿa, a shortening of Shīʿat ʿAlī ("the faction/party of Ali"). This refers to the early political and later theological group that supported Ali ibn Abi Talib's right to lead the Muslim community after the Prophet Muhammad's death. The English suffix "-ite," common in ethnonyms and terms for followers (e.g., "Israelite"), was appended to the Arabic root, resulting in "Shiite." Thus, the word's literal historical meaning, "adherent of the party of Ali," directly informs its modern usage as the designation for this major Islamic sect.
Analysis
The word is a loanword derived from the Arabic phrase Shīʿat ʿAlī, meaning "the party of Ali." It entered English as a single, unanalyzable unit in terms of English morphemes.
Examples
The population of Iran is predominantly Shiite.
There are significant theological differences between Shiite and Sunni Islam.
The shrine is a holy site for Shiite pilgrims.