Hindu

1 of 2

noun

Hin·​du ˈhin-(ˌ)dü How to pronounce Hindu (audio)
variants or less commonly Hindoo
1
: an adherent of Hinduism
2
: a native or inhabitant of India

Hindu

2 of 2

adjective

variants or less commonly Hindoo
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Hindus or Hinduism

Examples of Hindu in a Sentence

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Noun
Its rise also marks the beginning of the Hindu celebration of Pitru Paksha, during which worshippers perform rites to honor ancestors by offering prayers and food to past members of their families. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Lander, who is Jewish, attended a rally Saturday outside Madison Square Garden protesting the Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its leader, Mohan Bhagwat, who was speaking at the venue. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
Hindu texts do not provide a single general doctrine or interpretation of divine morphological multiplicity. — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 Even if a majority of the diaspora doesn’t support Hindu nationalism, Viswanath said not enough are speaking against it. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Hindu

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Persian Hindū inhabitant of India, from Hind India

First Known Use

Noun

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1698, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Hindu was in 1625

Phrases Containing Hindu

Rhymes for Hindu

See All Rhymes for Hindu

Browse Nearby Words

hindsight
Hindu
Hindu-Arabic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hindu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hindu. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Hindu

noun
Hin·​du
ˈhin-(ˌ)dü
1
: a follower of Hinduism
2
: a person born or living in India
Hindu adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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