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Puducherry

American  
[pood-oo-cher-ee] / ˌpʊd ʊˈtʃɛr i /
Also Pondichéry

noun

  1. a union territory of India, on the Coromandel Coast: formerly the chief settlement of French India; territory includes Mahé (on the Malabar Coast), Karikal, and Yanaon. 181 sq. mi. (469 sq. km).

  2. a seaport in and the capital of this territory.


Puducherry British  
/ ˌpuːduːˈtʃɛrɪ /

noun

  1. a Union Territory of SE India: transferred from French to Indian administration in 1954 and made a Union Territory in 1962. Capital: Puducherry. Pop: 973 829 (2001 est). Area: 479 sq km (185 sq miles)

  2. a port in SE India, capital of the Union Territory of Puducherry (Pondicherry), on the Coromandel Coast. Pop: 220 749 (2001)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

In the small federal territory of Puducherry, a former French enclave in southeastern India, a coalition government including the BJP retained power.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Earlier this month, the union territory of Puducherry banned the sweet treat while other states have begun testing samples of it.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2024

“The government has a keenness of publicity, and that has certainly created pressure,” says T. Sundararaman, an independent public health analyst based in Puducherry.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 26, 2022

The government of the union territory of Puducherry in the south was set to order all schoolgirls to wear overcoats to "protect them" until a public outry forced a U-turn.

From The Guardian • Jan. 15, 2013

Cyclone Thane struck Tamil Nadu state and the territory of Puducherry on Friday before weakening overnight, the India Meteorological Department said.

From Time • Dec. 31, 2011

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