آخوند

Persian

Pronunciation

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Noun

آخوند • (âxund or âxond) (plural آخوندها (âxund-hâ, âxond-hâ))

1. (sometimes derogatory) An akhund, specifically a cleric of the Usuli Shia school.

Usage notes

• In Iran, though not necessarily in other countries, this word is often used as a term of derision. It has been so used by clerics themselves to mark other clerics as backward or unlearned, but it is most often heard from those who are critical of the Shiite clergy and/or the Iranian revolution.

Derived terms

• آخوندک (âxundak)