Punjab

[ puhn-jahb, puhn-jahb ]

noun

1. a former province in NW British India: now divided between India and Pakistan.
2. a state in NW India. 47,456 sq. mi. (122,911 sq. km). : Chandigarh.
3. a province in NE Pakistan. 19,445 sq. mi. (50,362 sq. km). : Lahore.

Punjab

/ ˈpʌndʒɑːb; pʌnˈdʒɑːb /

noun

1. (formerly) a province in NW British India: divided between India and Pakistan in 1947
2. a state of NW India: reorganized in 1966 as a Punjabi-speaking state, a large part forming the new state of Haryana; mainly agricultural. Capital: Chandigarh. Pop: 24 289 296 (2001). Area: 50 255 sq km (19 403 sq miles)
3. a province of W Pakistan: created in 1947. Capital: Lahore. Pop: 82 710 000 (2003 est). Area: 205 344 sq km (127 595 sq miles)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Punjab¹

First recorded in 1830–35; from Hindi, Urdu Panjāb, from Persian panj âb, literally “(land of) five waters, five rivers” (the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas, tributaries of the Indus)

Example Sentences

The governor of Punjab province, a Muslim man, called publicly for leniency for her.

From The Daily Beast

As a reporter for a newspaper in Punjab, she covered dozens of cases of acid attacks and domestic violence.

From The Daily Beast

If the flames of separatism in Punjab seemed to be simmering, the secessionist strife in Kashmir was just peaking.

From The Daily Beast

Waris, who was born in Punjab, sports a turban in the arresting ads.

From The Daily Beast

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that was founded in Punjab, India, in the 15th century.

From The Daily Beast

The Punjab up in arms whole of the Punjab revolted and a holy war was proclaimed against England.

From Project Gutenberg

He made himself lord of nearly all the present territory of Afghanistan and of the Punjab.

From Project Gutenberg

One day when he was hunting in the Punjab, he saw a mother monkey carrying a little dead baby monkey.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Punjab, conditions were at the same time most serious, giving rise to expectations of armed intervention there.

From Project Gutenberg

After due deliberation the British government determined to annex the Punjab.

From Project Gutenberg