pandit

¹ American  

[puhn-dit, pan-dit] / ˈpʌn dɪt, ˈpæn dɪt /

noun

1. a man in India esteemed for his wisdom or learning: often used as a title of respect.

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Pandit ² American  

[puhn-dit] / ˈpʌn dɪt /

noun

1. Vijaya Lakshmi 1900–90, Indian stateswoman (sister of Jawaharlal Nehru).

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Pandit ¹ British  

/ ˈpʌndɪt /

noun

1. Vijaya Lakshmi (vɪˈjaɪə ˈlɑːkʃmɪ). 1900–90, Indian politician and diplomat; sister of Jawaharlal Nehru

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pandit ² British  

/ ˈpændɪt, ˈpʌndɪt /

noun

1. Hinduism a variant of pundit

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Etymology

Origin of pandit

1820–30; < Hindi < Sanskrit paṇḍita

Example Sentences

Pandit Vyaas took his father’s place as the temple’s pandit, or Hindu priest, after he died.

From New York Times • Dec. 15, 2022

His father answers furiously in Creole, “You wan’ go a pandit an’ ask ’am to open de book an’ give you answer?”

From Washington Post • Jul. 6, 2021

The other, Manshu, becomes pandit of the local temple.

From The Guardian • Feb. 2, 2019

One day I was filming four senior pandit teachers demonstrating the different recitation speeds.

From Scientific American • Jan. 2, 2018

My parents, the pandit and the imam looked surprised.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel