Punjab

American  

[puhn-jahb, puhn-jahb] / pʌnˈdʒɑb, ˈpʌn dʒɑb /

noun

1. a former province in NW British India: now divided between India and Pakistan.

2. a state in NW India. 47,456 sq. mi. (122,911 sq. km). Chandigarh.

3. a province in NE Pakistan. 19,445 sq. mi. (50,362 sq. km). Lahore.

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Punjab British  

/ pʌnˈdʒɑːb, ˈpʌndʒɑːb /

noun

1. (formerly) a province in NW British India: divided between India and Pakistan in 1947

2. a state of NW India: reorganized in 1966 as a Punjabi-speaking state, a large part forming the new state of Haryana; mainly agricultural. Capital: Chandigarh. Pop: 24 289 296 (2001). Area: 50 255 sq km (19 403 sq miles)

3. a province of W Pakistan: created in 1947. Capital: Lahore. Pop: 82 710 000 (2003 est). Area: 205 344 sq km (127 595 sq miles)

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Etymology

Origin of Punjab

First recorded in 1830–35; from Hindi, Urdu Panjāb, from Persian panj âb, literally “(land of) five waters, five rivers” (the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas, tributaries of the Indus)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Punjab

Joginder Singh, a 45-year-old businessman volunteering at the camp, said supporters from Mumbai, Chennai and Punjab had been placing delivery orders directly to the protest site.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

Shreyas led Kolkata Knight Riders to the Indian Premier League title in 2024 and captained Punjab Kings to a runners-up finish in 2025, but has found international leadership rather more challenging.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

In his home village in Punjab, Bishnoi is admired rather than reviled for many of the crimes attributed to him.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

A recent attempt by the government in India's northern state of Punjab to introduce a tougher law punishing sacrilege against the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, has triggered a controversy.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

Now he lived with a cranky man who was originally from Punjab.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan