India
1 Americannoun
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Official Name Republic of India. Hindi Bharat. a republic in South Asia comprising 28 states and 8 union territories: formerly a British colony that gained independence 1947, becoming a parliamentary republic within the Commonwealth of Nations 1950. 1,269,219 square miles (3,287,263 square kilometers). New Delhi.
noun
noun
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Hindi name: Bharat. a republic in S Asia: history dates from the Indus Valley civilization (3rd millennium bc ); came under British supremacy in 1763 and passed to the British Crown in 1858; nationalist movement arose under Gandhi (1869–1948); Indian subcontinent divided into Pakistan (Muslim) and India (Hindu) in 1947; became a republic within the Commonwealth in 1950. It consists chiefly of the Himalayas, rising over 7500 m (25 000 ft) in the extreme north, the Ganges plain in the north, the Thar Desert in the northwest, the Chota Nagpur plateau in the northeast, and the Deccan Plateau in the south. Official and administrative languages: Hindi and English; each state has its own language. Parts of the SE coast suffered badly in the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. Religion: Hindu majority, Muslim minority. Currency: rupee. Capital: New Delhi. Pop: 1 220 800 359 (2013 est). Area: 3 268 100 sq km (1 261 813 sq miles)
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communications a code word for the letter i
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Despite world disapproval, in 1998 India successfully conducted nuclear bomb tests. Pakistan did the same two weeks later. (See Kashmir.)
The country is marked by conflict between the Hindu and Muslim populations and violence between castes.
India is the second most populous country in the world, after China.
British control of India began in 1757 and did not end until the dissolution of the British regime, or Raj, in 1947, when India was divided into India and Pakistan.
Mahatma Gandhi led the movement for Indian independence through passive resistance to British rule. He was killed by a fanatic in 1948.
Etymology
Origin of India1
First recorded before 1000; from Latin, from Greek Indía, equivalent to Ind(ós) “the Indus river” (from Old Persian Hindu, literally, “the river”; cognate with Sanskrit sindhu ) + -ia -ia
Origin of India2
First recorded in 1950–55
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He said India continues to support "free, safe and unimpeded flow of trade, energy and fertiliser".
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
Rubio's visit comes as India and the United States struggle to finalise a trade deal, a persistent source of friction between the two countries.
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
The festival coincides with Vijayadashami, celebrated in eastern, southern and other parts of India, to honour goddess Durga slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
In India, the world’s largest Generation Z cohort is finding that even economic growth projected to reach 7.1% isn’t enough.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
The ship of the East India Company did not seem interested in the Astrea.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
