What does minaret mean?
A minaret is a tall, usually slender tower associated with a mosque, especially in Islamic architecture. Traditionally, a muezzin or other caller used one to proclaim the call to prayer, although modern minarets may serve mainly architectural, symbolic, or decorative purposes. The word commonly evokes a mosque's skyline, visual prominence, and connection with the Muslim community. In English, it is used for both the original functional tower and towers designed in the minaret style for civic, religious, or commemorative purposes. The term can also appear in historical writing and descriptions of the architecture of Muslim societies. Its unusual name comes through Turkish from Arabic, where the related word means “lighthouse” or “beacon tower.” This origin gives the word a memorable double association: the minaret is a guiding landmark and a means of projecting a call across a neighborhood.
nounA slender tower attached to or associated with a mosque, traditionally used for making the call to prayer and often serving as a prominent architectural landmark.
- A slender tower attached to or associated with a mosque, traditionally used for making the call to prayer and often serving as a prominent architectural landmark.
"The mosque's newly restored minaret rises above the surrounding rooftops."
"At sunset, the muezzin's call echoed from the minaret."
"The photograph focused on the ornate minaret against a clear blue sky."
The standard plural adds -s.
"Several minarets dominate the city's skyline."
The Arabic ancestor of minaret means “lighthouse” or “beacon tower,” a striking reminder that a minaret is both a landmark and a voice.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does minaret come from?
The English word was borrowed from Turkish minare, which comes from Arabic manāra, meaning “lighthouse,” “beacon,” or “tower.” The Arabic term was used for a tower from which a call could be made, while also referring to a lighthouse. The word entered English in the early 17th century and later developed the variant spelling minar; related forms appear in languages such as Spanish, including alminar.
Related word forms
How minaret is actually used
The word is used in English primarily in discussions of Islamic architecture and religious practice. It is generally neutral, though minarets can carry cultural or regional associations in political and historical contexts.
Easily confused with minaret
Minar is an older or less common spelling variant of minaret, not a separate type of architectural feature.