caliph Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun the civil and religious leader of a Muslim state considered to be a representative of Allah on earth
khalifah; kalif; kaliph; khalif; calif.
- many radical Muslims believe a Khalifah will unite all Islamic lands and people and subjugate the rest of the world

OE. caliphe, califfe, F. calife (cf. Sp. califa), fr. Ar. khalifan successor, fr. khalafa to succed.

Successor or vicar; -- a title of the successors of Mohammed both as temporal and spiritual rulers, now used by the sultans of Turkey, Writting also calif.