Definition

Proper noun 1. A fundamentalist Islamic political and military movement: The Taliban is a predominantly Pashtun organization that emerged in Afghanistan in the early 1990s. It is characterized by its strict interpretation of Sunni Islam and its aim to establish an Islamic emirate governed by its interpretation of Sharia law. 2. The former governing authority in Afghanistan: The Taliban militia took control of Kabul in 1996 and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which enforced a strict code of behavior until its removal from power in 2001.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The international community has expressed concerns about the Taliban's policies.
  • Under the Taliban, television and music were banned.
  • The word 'Taliban' is often used to refer to the group's leadership and fighters collectively.

Advanced Usage

• "the Taliban regime/era/government": Used to specify the period or system of governance when the group was in power.
  • Many women's rights were curtailed during the Taliban regime.
• "Taliban forces/fighters/militants": Used to refer to the armed members of the movement.
  • Taliban fighters captured the provincial capital.

Variants and Related Words

• Talib (noun, singular): A member or follower of the Taliban. The word "Taliban" itself is the plural of "Talib," which means "student" (of Islamic knowledge) in Pashto.
  • He was described as a committed Talib.
• Talibanization (noun): The process of imposing a strict, fundamentalist interpretation of Islamic law, similar to policies enacted by the Taliban.
  • Analysts warned of the Talibanization of the region.

Synonyms

• Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: The official name used by the Taliban for the state it governs.
• The Islamic movement (in Afghanistan): A more general descriptive term.

Notes on Usage

• The term "Taliban" is typically used with the definite article "the" (e.g., ).
• It is treated as a singular collective noun when referring to the organization as a single entity (e.g., ), though plural verb forms are also common (e.g., ).
• The spelling "Taleban" is an alternative, less common transliteration from Pashto and Dari. The standard modern English spelling is "Taliban".

Noun

1. a fundamentalist Islamic militia; in 1995 the Taliban militia took over Afghanistan and in 1996 took Kabul and set up an Islamic government
   • the Taliban enforced a strict Muslim code of behavior