muhammadan: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ArchaicHistoric, Academic (in historical context only), Generally Avoided
Quick answer
What does “muhammadan” mean?
A term historically used to refer to a follower of the religion of Islam.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A term historically used to refer to a follower of the religion of Islam.
An outdated and often offensive designation for a Muslim, based on the name of the Prophet Muhammad. Its use implies that Muslims worship Muhammad rather than God (Allah), which is theologically incorrect and considered disrespectful.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or offensiveness. The term is equally outdated and problematic in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of 18th-19th century Orientalist scholarship, colonialism, and religious misunderstanding.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern usage. If encountered, it is almost exclusively in historical documents or academic analysis of such documents.
Grammar
How to Use “muhammadan” in a Sentence
The term is a noun used attributively (e.g., Muhammadan law). It is not used with verbs describing religious practice (e.g., one does not 'Muhammadanize').Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “muhammadan” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Victorian explorer referred to the local inhabitants as Muhammadans.
American English
- The archaic statute used the term 'Muhammadan' to define a religious group.
adverb
British English
- Not used.
American English
- Not used.
adjective
British English
- He studied 18th-century British perspectives on Muhammadan customs.
American English
- The museum's old exhibit card had the phrase 'Muhammadan art.'
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only with caution and explicit framing in historical or post-colonial studies to critique past terminology. Example: 'The 19th-century text employs the now-problematic term "Muhammadan."'
Everyday
Should be avoided entirely. Use 'Muslim.'
Technical
Not used in religious studies or sociology; 'Muslim' is the correct technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “muhammadan”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “muhammadan”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “muhammadan”
- Using 'Muhammadan' in contemporary speech or writing to refer to Muslims.
- Thinking it is a polite or formal synonym for 'Muslim.'
- Using it without historicizing quotation marks or explanation in academic work.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Only in a tightly controlled academic context when directly quoting or analysing historical sources, and it must be framed with an explanation of its problematic nature. In all other contexts, it is unacceptable.
It is offensive because it implies that Muslims worship the Prophet Muhammad, which is considered idolatry (shirk) in Islam. Muslims worship only God (Allah). The term reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the religion.
The correct and respectful term is 'Muslim' (noun) or 'Islamic' (adjective). For example, 'Muslim people,' 'Islamic art,' 'Muslim-majority country.'
Yes. Examples include 'Mohammedan' (variant spelling), 'Moslem' (dated), and analogous terms like 'Mahometan' in older French texts. Similar historic misnomers exist for other faiths, but 'Muhammadan' is particularly charged due to its theological error.
A term historically used to refer to a follower of the religion of Islam.
Muhammadan is usually historic, academic (in historical context only), generally avoided in register.
Muhammadan: in British English it is pronounced /mʊˈhamədan/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈhæmədən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MUHAMMAD-an' focuses on the man, Muhammad. Remember that Muslims worship God (Allah), not the Prophet, so this term is a misnomer.
Conceptual Metaphor
TERM AS MISREPRESENTATION: The word metaphorically reduces the complex theology of Islam to the veneration of a single human figure, which is a fundamental distortion.
Practice
Quiz
In which context might the term 'Muhammadan' be acceptably used?