Hindu

Or Hin·doo

[hin-doo]

noun

1. a person, especially of northern India, who adheres to Hinduism.

adjective

1. of or relating to Hindus or Hinduism.

Hindu

/ hɪnˈduː, ˈhɪnduː /

noun

1. a person who adheres to Hinduism

2. an inhabitant or native of Hindustan or India, esp one adhering to Hinduism

adjective

1. relating to Hinduism, Hindus, or India

Other Word Forms

• anti-Hindu adjective
• non-Hindu noun
• pro-Hindu adjective
• pseudo-Hindu adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hindu¹

1655–65; < Persian Hindū Indian (adj., noun), equivalent to Hind ( Hindi ) + -ū adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hindu¹

C17: from Persian Hindū, from Hind India; see _Hindi

Example Sentences

Earthquakes are common in the country, particularly along the Hindu Kush mountain range, near where the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates meet.

Read more on Barron's

Usha, an agnostic ethnic Hindu from an Indian-immigrant family, attends church services with him, and their children are being raised as Catholic Christians.

Read more on Salon

She told Fox News in 2024 that her parents' Hindu religion helped make them "really good people."

Read more on Barron's

At least nine people were crushed to death after a massive crowd surge at a Hindu temple in southern India's Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, the state's governor said.

Read more on Barron's

Thousands of devotees waded into the foul waters of the Yamuna river in the Indian capital Monday for a Hindu festival, amid political wrangling over the sacred but severely polluted waterway.

Read more on Barron's