Explanation

Use the noun sultan when you talk about the king of a Muslim country. It's most commonly used to refer to the sultans of Turkey's Ottoman Empire. There are some countries today that still use the term sultan for a ruler or nobleman, including Oman and Malaysia. However, the word comes up most often in a historical context, especially when you're talking about the former Ottoman Empire, where the title of sultan was inherited, passed from father to son. The word sultan has many different meanings in Arabic, including "strength," "ruler," "king," "queen," and "power."

Vocabulary lists containing sultan

English Words Derived from Arabic

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Southeast Asia - Introductory

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Southeast Asia - Middle School

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See Examples For:

Sensing opportunity, Mehmed II, the Ottoman sultan, arrived at the walls of Constantinople on April 5.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

British troops had been sent there, along with the French, to defend the Ottoman sultan from the predations of Russian Czar Nicholas I.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

She presented herself as a wealthy, illegitimate daughter of the sultan of Brunei, initially showering Mr Hornigold, his then-partner Heather Kaniuk and his friends with lavish gifts, from cars to homes.

From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2025

But the sultan has defended his business dealings.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 30, 2024

Tío Yehuda replies, “We have heard that the Turkish sultan has promised to accept Jews and treat them well. We want to leave for Constantinople as soon as we can.”

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

The heads of Malaysia's nine royal families, sultans of nine of its 13 states, take turns to be king for a five-year term.

From Reuters ● Oct. 26, 2023

Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, director of the German Marshall Fund in Ankara, said the relationship’s dual nature dates back to the sultans and czars.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 20, 2023

Among the tombs are those of 19th and early 20th century politicians, including nationalist leader Ahmed Urabi, and spectacular mausoleums of Mamluk sultans who ruled Egypt from 1250 A.D. to 1517 A.D.

From Reuters ● Jun. 19, 2023

Assisting the sultans of Malacca to maintain control over the city were nine elite knights.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022

Hugh's family was hobnobbing with chiefs and sultans while I ate hush puppies at the Sanitary Fish Market in Morehead City, a beach towel wrapped like a hijab around my head.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris