fatwa

noun

fat·​wa ˈfət-wə How to pronounce fatwa (audio)
ˈfät-wä
: a legal opinion or decree handed down by an Islamic religious leader

Examples of fatwa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Before the attack, Matar discussed the fatwa against Rushdie and Hezbollah's support for it with individuals in Iran, Australia and Canada, according to prosecutors. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Matar repeatedly broached the fatwa with contacts in messaging apps in 2021 and 2022, according to exhibits shown in court. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 Rushdie has spent almost 40 years under threat of death from Islamic extremists after the Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against him, claiming Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses blasphemed Islam and mocked the Prophet Muhammad. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 July 2026 That same weekend, Ayatollah Khomeini died in Iran, a few months after issuing a fatwa against Salman Rushdie. — Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fatwa

Word History

Etymology

Arabic fatwā

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fatwa was circa 1889

Browse Nearby Words

fatuously
fatwa
fat-witted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fatwa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fatwa. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fatwa

Nglish: Translation of fatwa for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fatwa

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