maharajah

Or ma·ha·ra·ja

[mah-huh-rah-juh, -zhuh]

noun

1. (formerly) a ruling prince in India, especially of one of the major states.

maharajah

/ ˌmɑːhəˈrɑːdʒə /

noun

1. any of various Indian princes, esp any of the rulers of the former native states

Word History and Origins

Origin of maharajah¹

1690–1700; < Hindi mahārājā great king, equivalent to mahā- great + rājā rajah

Word History and Origins

Origin of maharajah¹

C17: Hindi, from mahā great + _rajah

Example Sentences

The 41-year-old singer, who is the only Punjabi musician to perform at Coachella, walked the red carpet dressed like an early 20th Century maharajah.

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Air India, with its maharajah mascot, was once known for its lavishly decorated planes and stellar service, but its reputation declined in the mid-2000s as financial troubles mounted.

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She attended a number of receptions and spent two days at a hunting lodge of a maharajah and rode an elephant.

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Pharaohs, Celtic rulers, Roman emperors and maharajahs adorned themselves in beaded collars, semicircular metallic torcs, gold pendants and gem-encrusted chains to communicate power and class.

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This infuriated the landlords and maharajahs who presided over a feudal hierarchy that relied on exploiting lower-caste labor.

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Related Words

• czar 
• emperor 
• king 
• monarch 
• shah 
• sultan