Uighurs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An ethnic Turkic group predominantly residing in the Xinjiang region of China known for their distinct language, culture, and Muslim faith
2. A minority community primarily living in northwest China with a unique cultural heritage and a Turkic language affiliation, practicing Islam as their main religion
3. A Central Asian ethnic group based mainly in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region characterized by a Turkic language, Islamic traditions, and a rich cultural identity

Etymology: "Uighurs" is the plural of "Uighur," and the singular form is the one that carries the history. The name refers to the people themselves, a Turkic-speaking community whose homeland is Xinjiang in northwest China. Because the word is a plural, it simply counts individual members of that group, so the etymology belongs to the singular. The singular "Uighur" is the form that English adopted, and it reaches English as the name the people use for themselves. Its spelling varies widely in older texts, which is why earlier writers may appear to name the same people differently. Readers encountering the word in historical sources should expect that variation.

Synonyms: Uyghurs, Turkic people