hijab

noun

hi·​jab hē-ˈjäb How to pronounce hijab (audio)
-ˈjab
1
plural hijabs : a covering for the hair and neck that is worn by some Muslim women
The website offers Muslim women an array of hijabs for every occasion—including sports—without skimping on quality, comfort, or modest principles.Sara Holzman
While Muslim women wear hijabs to show modesty and piety, every woman has her own reason for wearing a hijab, but Mohammad Zal said many people mistake these reasons for coercion.Christine Fernando
… women are burning their headscarves in the street. … They don't object to the hijab itself; they object to not having the right to choose whether to wear it.Roya Hakakian
… as part of a controversial decade-long effort to curb the public expression of religion, the French Senate voted 160-143 Tuesday in favor of a bill seeking to amend its national Sports Code to ban athletes from wearing religious symbols, such as hijabs … at sports competitions, public swimming pools, and bathing areas.Ananya Upadhya
The dispute began … at a college preparatory school for girls in Udupi, a city in southwestern Karnataka, when teachers there barred several Muslim students from entering their classrooms while wearing hijabs.Sameer Yasir
2
: a set of principles and practices in Islam relating to modesty and morality and especially to covering oneself (as by wearing a hijab)
"… hijab is not just about outer appearances; it is also about noble speech, dignified and righteous conduct, and modesty. …"brochure, quoted in The Houston Chronicle
"Since a majority of my clients are Muslim, some will be observing hijab, which is a religious observance, usually interpreted by wearing a headscarf and dressing modestly. …"Fatin Jarara
Farooqi and others are dressed in classic American volunteer attire—yellow T-shirts emblazoned with a logo—but the men also wear … skullcaps and the women observe hijab, covering their hair and necks with scarves.Harry Bruinius

Examples of hijab 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.
According to the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, the students were targeted for wearing hijabs. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2025 The twin 13-year-old girls had their hijabs pulled off and were kicked and punched in the girls’ locker room during their gym period, according to Farhan Memon, chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. Yash Roy, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025 The intrigue: The Biden administration's Department of Justice opened an investigation into ASU police last year after four women said their hijabs were removed by officers during their arrest at an on-campus pro-Palestinian protest last April. Jessica Boehm, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025 Almost immediately after the establishment of the Islamic Republic, women faced calls for compulsory hijab. Narges Mohammadi, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hijab

Word History

Etymology

Arabic ḥijāb cover, screen, veil

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of hijab was in 1885

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Cite this Entry

“Hijab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hijab. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

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