Dhimmitude

Dhimmitude is a neologism borrowed from the French language. It is derived by adding the productive suffix -tude to the Arabic noun dhimmi, which refers to the legal and social status historically assigned to non-Muslims in an Islamic state.

The term has several distinct, but related meanings depending on the author; its scope may be historical only, contemporary only, or both. It may encompass the whole system of dhimma, look only at its subjects (dhimmis), or even apply it outside of any established system of dhimma, often polemically. The term has been criticised by some academic scholars as misleading and Islamophobic.