Shaitan

//ˈʃeɪtan// name, noun

name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    a demon/devil; or evil jinn.

    "'... hence, we are always malā'ika (angels), forgetting that ashayṭān was once a malāk (angel)."

  2. 2
    (Islam) a rebellious jinni who leads men astray wordnet
  3. 3
    A dust storm. India, archaic

    "Dust columns are called shaitans or devils by the Beloochees, who have a superstitious feeling with regard to them."

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    Iblis, Satan.

    "Beside him two Egyptian artillerymen with their throats cut were sobbing out their lives upon the ground. "Who lays the gun this time?" asked the fierce chief, glaring at the frightened gunners. "Here, thou black-browed child of Shaitan, aim, and aim for thy life.""

Example

More examples

"'... hence, we are always malā'ika (angels), forgetting that ashayṭān was once a malāk (angel)."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Arabic شَيْطَان (šayṭān, “satan, devil”). Doublet of Satan.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Arabic شَيْطَان (šayṭān, “satan, devil”)

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.