guru
Americannoun
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Hinduism. a preceptor giving personal religious instruction.
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an intellectual or spiritual guide or leader.
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any person who counsels or advises; mentor.
The elder senator was her political guru.
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a leader in a particular field.
the city's cultural gurus.
noun
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a Hindu or Sikh religious teacher or leader, giving personal spiritual guidance to his disciples
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derogatory a leader or chief theoretician of a movement, esp a spiritual or religious cult
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facetious a leading authority in a particular field
a cricketing guru
Discover More
By extension, a “guru” is a teacher who attracts disciples or followers.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of guru
1820–30; < Hindi gurū < Sanskrit guru venerable, weighty
Explanation
A guru is a spiritual teacher and leader, particularly in the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. It has been said that your guru will find you when you are ready for your study — your journey — to begin. The noun guru is a Sanskrit word which also means “weighty,” or “grave.” A guru might teach you about meditation and compassion, or how to live your life according to certain precepts and truths. There is also another kind of guru — an expert leader in any field. You can be a guru of accounting or even of pizza-making if you are very good at it and can guide others to greater understanding.
Vocabulary lists containing guru
World Religions
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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.
"And now it's become an exercise in how, if you're lucky often enough, people will think you're a guru."
From BBC • May 26, 2026
Frequently described as a guru, Chopra has served as a spiritual adviser to some of the biggest celebrities in the world, including Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson.
From Salon • May 19, 2026
Jonathan Krinsky, technical guru at BTIG, notes that the S&P 500 on Friday closed more than 7% above its 50-day moving average, yet only 52% of the index’s components finished above their own 50-DMAs.
From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026
There’s a wonderful Hollywood wrestling guru these days named Chavo Guerrero.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
“It’s a good kind of hurt,” my father tells me, then he quotes some sports guru, saying, “Pain is weakness leaving the body.”
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
