NYT Dictionary

KHAN

/kɑːn/
NounKAHNGrade 9

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025

Meaning

A ruler over various Turkic and Mongol peoples in the Middle Ages.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Via late Middle English can, chan from Old French chan, from Medieval Latin chanis, from Turkic *qan, contraction of *qaɣan. Cognate with Old Turkic 𐰴𐰍𐰣 (qaɣan), and Mongolian хаан (xaan), possibly from Rouran. Sense 1 (ruler in the Middle Ages) after Genghis Khan, from Middle Mongol ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ (qaɣan). Doublet of khagan.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

caravanseraifondukkhakancaravansarybeycaesarczaremirkaiseresquire

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 3 recorded puzzles:

Join the Spelling Bee Community

Get solving strategies, rare word lists, and puzzle tips in your inbox every week.