noun. A high-ranking Shiite religious authority regarded as worthy of imitation in matters of religious law and interpretation.

noun. Used as a title for such a leader.

noun. A religious leader in Iranian Shi’ite Islam; a member of the ’ulama.

noun. a high-ranking Shiite religious leader who is regarded as an authority on religious law and its interpretation and who has political power as well

"His successor, Ali Khamenei, also a fighter against the shah rather than a religious authority, was hastily "promoted" to the title ayatollah in order to become supreme leader."

religious leader  

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