The Dzungar or Zunghar (Mongolian: Зүүнгар, Züüngar, lit. "Left hands"; Kazakh: Жоңғар Zhongar) is the collective identity of several Oirat tribes that formed and maintained the Zunghar Khanate in the 17th to 18th century. Historically they were one of major tribes of the Four Oirats confederation. The Qing Dynasty used the term Ööled (Cyrillic: Өөлд) as euphemism for the hated word Zunghar.
The Dzungars were a confederation of several Oirat tribes that emerged in the early 17th century to fight the Altan Khan of the Khalkha (not to be confused with the more well-known Altan Khan of the Tümed), the Jasaghtu Khan, and later the Manchu for dominion and control over the Mongolian people and territories. This confederation rose to power in what became known as Dzungaria between the Altai Mountains and the Ili River Valley. Initially, the confederation consisted of the Oöled, Dörvöd and Khoit tribes. Later on, elements of the Khoshut and Torghut tribes were forcibly incorporated into the Dzungar military, thus completing the re-unification of the West Mongolian tribes.