noun
or shia or shiah ˈshē(ˌ)ä, -ēə
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Arabic shī'ah following, sect — more at shi'ite
1. : the Muslims comprising one of the two major branches of Islam originating as a legitimist party rejecting the first three caliphs and holding Ali the son-in-law of Muhammad as the legitimate successor of the Prophet, established as the national faith of Persia since 1500, and comprising many diverse sects — compare sunni
2. : shi'ite
3. : the branch of Islam formed by the Shi'a