jihad
gb/d͡ʒihˈæd/ us/d͡ʒihˈæd/
C1
English
~ 8500
dzsihád, hadjárat, kereszteshadjárat
NOUN
C1
1
dzsihád
C1
Usage pattern:
to wage jihad against [someone/something]
The group announced that it was launching a jihad against foreign forces in the region.
A csoport bejelentette, hogy dzsihádot indít a térségben lévő külföldi erők ellen.
Several governments have increased security after extremists called for jihad online.
Több kormány is fokozta a biztonsági intézkedéseket, miután szélsőségesek az interneten dzsihádra szólítottak fel.
The documentary examined how the idea of jihad was used to justify terrorist attacks.
He was arrested for trying to travel abroad to join what he believed was a legitimate jihad.
Scholars in the program discussed the political use of the word 'jihad' to promote violent conflict.
Learner examples
The news report said some men wanted to go and fight in a jihad.
A híradás szerint néhány férfi el akart menni, hogy egy dzsihádban harcoljon.
Many Muslims reject violence and say that terrorism is not real jihad.
Sok muszlim elutasítja az erőszakot, és azt mondja, hogy a terrorizmus nem igazi dzsihád.
The leader used the word 'jihad' when he asked people to start a war.
The film shows how young people were pushed to join jihad in another country.
Politicians spoke about new laws to stop people from going overseas for jihad.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'jihad' always means 'Islam' or 'Muslims'. In modern English, it usually refers specifically to violent struggle or war justified by some groups in religious terms, not to the religion of Islam as a whole. Another mistake is using it as a verb (*they jihad every year*); in English it is a noun, and verbs like 'wage' or 'fight' are used with it.
Meaning
violent religious war by some Muslims
Collocations
wage jihad
|holy jihad
|global jihad
|violent jihad
|call for jihad
|jihadist movement
Synonyms
holy war (very close in meaning, but does not specify that the religion involved is Islam; more general and sometimes used for other religions too)
|
religious war (focuses on religion as the cause of war; less tied to Islamic terminology than 'jihad')
Antonyms
peace (describes the absence of war or violence, which is the opposite situation of a violent jihad)
|
truce (a formal agreement to stop fighting, which contrasts with continuing or starting jihad)
Themes
religion
|politics
|conflict
|security
Definition
a war or violent fight that some Muslim groups say they carry out for their religion or to defend Islam
In modern English, most often, a war or campaign of violence claimed by some Muslims to be carried out for religious reasons or in defense of Islam.
NOUN
C2
2
dzsihád
C1
Usage pattern:
a jihad to [verb] [something]
The article explained that in classical Islamic teaching, jihad can also mean a peaceful spiritual struggle to become a better person.
A cikk elmagyarázta, hogy a klasszikus iszlám tanítás szerint a dzsihád jelenthet békés, spirituális küzdelmet is azért, hogy valaki jobb emberré váljon.
For many believers, giving up harmful habits is part of their personal jihad.
Sok hívő számára a káros szokások feladása a személyes dzsihádjuk része.
She described charity work in her community as a form of non-violent jihad.
The professor emphasized that the greater jihad is often understood as the inner battle against selfish desires.
Some Muslim leaders stress that jihad includes education and social reform, not only armed conflict.
Learner examples
The imam said that the most important jihad is the fight against your own bad desires.
Az imám azt mondta, hogy a legfontosabb dzsihád a saját rossz vágyaink elleni küzdelem.
For him, studying hard and helping others is a kind of jihad.
Számára a szorgalmas tanulás és a mások segítése a dzsihád egy formája.
The book talks about jihad as a daily struggle to do the right thing.
She sees her work for poor people as her jihad.
In this lesson, we learn that jihad can mean a peaceful struggle to be a good person.
Common mistake:
Many learners only know the violent meaning of 'jihad' from the news and are surprised that it can also mean peaceful, personal, or social effort in Islamic teaching. Another mistake is assuming this spiritual sense is the default in everyday English; in general English use, the violent or political sense is still more common unless the religious context is made clear.
Meaning
personal or social religious struggle
Collocations
spiritual jihad
|inner jihad
|greater jihad
|jihad of the heart
|personal jihad
Synonyms
spiritual struggle (very close in meaning but general; does not refer specifically to Islamic teaching or terminology)
|
inner struggle (focuses on the personal, internal aspect without the explicit religious and Islamic context of 'jihad')
Antonyms
spiritual laziness (describes a lack of effort in religious or moral life, the opposite of an intense spiritual struggle)
|
resignation (accepting one's state without trying to improve, contrasting with the active effort implied by 'jihad')
Themes
religion
|ethics
|personal_growth
Definition
in Islam, a strong effort to follow God, to improve yourself, or to make society better, which does not have to be violent
In Islamic thought, a personal or collective effort to live according to God's will, improve oneself, or work for justice, which may be non-violent and spiritual rather than military.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
3
hadjárat
B2
Usage pattern:
a jihad against [something]
The mayor has launched a jihad against illegal parking in the city center.
A polgármester hadjáratot indított a belvárosi illegális parkolás ellen.
He jokes that he is on a one-man jihad against plastic bags in his household.
Viccelődve azt mondja, hogy egyszemélyes hadjáratot folytat a háztartásában a műanyag zacskók ellen.
The magazine described the minister's strict policies as a jihad against unhealthy food.
Some critics say the new rules amount to a bureaucratic jihad against small businesses.
Her personal jihad against online misinformation has made her very active on social media.
Learner examples
The teacher started a jihad against phones in class and took them from students.
A tanár hadjáratot indított az órai telefonhasználat ellen, és elvette a diákoktól a telefonokat.
My friend is on a jihad against junk food and does not let his kids eat it.
A barátom hadjáratot folytat az egészségtelen ételek ellen, és nem engedi, hogy a gyerekei ilyet egyenek.
The new boss began a jihad against late emails and asked everyone to reply quickly.
He calls his cleaning plan a jihad against the mess in his room.
The city began a jihad against trash on the streets.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this use is figurative and may try to translate it too literally. They may also overuse it in formal writing, where neutral words like 'campaign' or 'effort' are usually better. In addition, because 'jihad' is sensitive and religiously loaded, using it jokingly or casually can sound offensive, so learners should be careful with this figurative sense.
Meaning
very strong campaign against something
Collocations
jihad against corruption
|jihad against smoking
|jihad against waste
|personal jihad against clutter
|one-man jihad against [something]
Synonyms
crusade (very close figurative meaning; slightly more common and sometimes less politically sensitive than 'jihad')
|
campaign (more neutral and formal; lacks the strong emotional and cultural color of 'jihad')
Antonyms
indifference (indicates not caring or not taking action, the opposite of running an intense campaign)
|
complacency (being too satisfied to act, contrasting with the active drive in a 'jihad against' something)
Themes
politics
|society
|media
|metaphor
|communication
Definition
a very strong and active campaign for or against something, using the word 'jihad' in a non-religious, figurative way
By extension, a very intense and determined campaign or effort for or against something, often used figuratively, humorously, or critically, and not necessarily connected to Islam.
Grammar
Dictionary form
jihad
IPA
GB/d͡ʒihˈæd/
US/d͡ʒihˈæd/
Syllables & stress
ji - had (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (had)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: jihad
- Plural: jihads
Word family
Forms
jihads
noun
Related words
jihadist
noun
jihadi
noun
Advanced or less common
jihadism
noun
Expressions
global jihad
1/ɡlˈoʊbəl d͡ʒihˈæd/
fixed phrase
international militant jihad movement
a worldwide militant movement that says it is fighting jihad across many countries
Examples
- The documentary traces the rise of global jihad in the late twentieth century.
- Analysts discussed how online networks have helped global jihad spread its message.
jihad against
1/d͡ʒihˈæd əɡˈɛnst/
fixed phrase
intense struggle or campaign against
to have a very strong and active campaign against something, sometimes literally religious and sometimes figurative or humorous
Examples
- Activists have declared a jihad against government corruption.
- The new health minister has begun a jihad against sugary drinks in schools.
wage jihad
1/wˈeɪd͡ʒ d͡ʒihˈæd/
fixed phrase
to conduct or fight a jihad
to carry out a jihad, usually a violent religious fight, as a group or movement
Examples
- The militant group said it would wage jihad until foreign troops left the country.
- The security report warned that some individuals were preparing to wage jihad abroad.