effendi

UK: /ɛˈfɛndɪ/ US: (i fen′dē)

Inflections of 'effendi' (n): npl: effendis

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ef•fen•di  (i fen′dē), n., pl. -dis. 

1. World History a former Turkish title of respect, esp. for government officials.
2. World History (in eastern Mediterranean countries) a man who is a member of the aristocracy.

• Modern Greek, Greek authenté̄s doer, master. See authentic
• Turkish efendi
• 1605–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

effendi / ɛˈfɛndɪ/ noun ( -dis)

1. (in the Ottoman Empire) a title of respect used to address men of learning or social standing
2. (in Turkey since 1934) the oral title of address equivalent to Mr

Etymology: 17th Century: from Turkish efendi master, from Modern Greek aphentēs, from Greek authentēs lord, doer; see authentic