1. A variant spelling of caliph; an Islamic religious and political leader, especially one considered a successor to the Prophet Muhammad.
Usage: Alternative spelling of 'caliph'; less common in modern English; Historical and religious term

Examples

• The kaliph ruled over a vast Islamic empire during the medieval period.
• Historical texts refer to the early kaliphs as leaders of the Muslim community.
• Some scholars use the spelling 'kaliph' when discussing Islamic history.
• The kaliph's authority was based on religious and political power.