Sanskrit

[ san-skrit ]

/ ˈsæn skrɪt /

Save This Word!

noun

an Indo-European, Indic language, in use since c1200 b.c. as the religious and classical literary language of India. Abbreviations: Skt, Skt., Skr., Skrt

adjective

Also San·skrit·ic . of or relating to Sanskrit.

QUIZ

FIRE UP YOUR VOCAB FOR A "RED" SYNONYMS QUIZ

No fire engine reds here, only a fierce collection of vibrant words for the color red to test yourself on.

Question 1 of 7

What does "amaranth" mean?

a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness

an imaginary, undying flower

a mythical creature

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Also Older Spelling, San·scrit .

Origin of Sanskrit

First recorded in 1610–20; from Sanskrit saṃskṛta “adorned, perfected”; cf. Prakrit, Pali

OTHER WORDS FROM Sanskrit

San·skrit·ist, nounnon-San·skrit·ic, adjective

Words nearby Sanskrit

San Sebastián, Sansei, sansevieria, sans gêne, Sansk., Sanskrit, Sanskritic, Sansom, Sanson-Flamsteed projection, Sansovino, sans peur et sans reproche

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use Sanskrit in a sentence

You don’t need to understand Sanskrit to know the suffering that she conveys here.
Alice Coltrane is finally heralded as a jazz great. A new reissue doesn’t do her justice.|Andy Beta|July 9, 2021|Washington Post
Still, that’s no match for Sanskrit, which has 96, many of which examine the nuances of platonic love.
Why Is Making Friends So Hard?|Nick|April 11, 2021|Ozy
Tattvan, which means “to protect the five senses” in Sanskrit, operates an unusual model of telehealth.
Some parts of remote living are here to stay|Katie McLean|February 24, 2021|MIT Technology Review
I remember reading about how you and your wife had a message in Sanskrit inside your wedding bands.
Hugh Jackman on ‘Prisoners,’ the Oscars, ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ and More|Marlow Stern|September 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST

After a successful run at film festivals, a film based on a Sanskrit epic suddenly sparks turmoil in New York.
Animated Film Roils Hindus in Queens|Salil Tripathi|July 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He found his answer in the ancient Sanskrit poem, the Mahabharata, to find the essence of dharma.
This Week's Hot Reads|The Daily Beast|December 8, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Tra comes from a Sanskrit word trayate that means "to liberate."
The Tantric Sex in Avatar|Asra Q. Nomani|March 4, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The Sanskrit noun avatāra is derived from a verbal root that means "to cross over," just as Jake does in his journey.
The Tantric Sex in Avatar|Asra Q. Nomani|March 4, 2010|DAILY BEAST
This island was small at first, like earth in the Sanskrit myth in the Satapatha Brahmana, but gradually increased in bulk.
Myth, Ritual, and Religion, Vol. 1|Andrew Lang
Etymology: A Sanskrit word signifying happiness, pleasure, good luck.
The Swastika|Thomas Wilson
It must have been in existence long before the Buddhist religion or the Sanskrit language.
The Swastika|Thomas Wilson
When it became evident that this view of Sanskrit was untenable, they began to locate the centre in Europe.
The New Stone Age in Northern Europe|John M. Tyler
It is believed that these Pracrits represented certain local dialects, as opposed to the purer and more classical Sanskrit.
The Ethnology of the British Colonies and Dependencies|Robert Gordon Latham

British Dictionary definitions for Sanskrit

Sanskrit

/ (ˈsænskrɪt) /

noun

an ancient language of India, the language of the Vedas, of Hinduism, and of an extensive philosophical and scientific literature dating from the beginning of the first millennium bc. It is the oldest recorded member of the Indic branch of the Indo-European family of languages; recognition of the existence of the Indo-European family arose in the 18th century from a comparison of Sanskrit with Greek and Latin. Although it is used only for religious purposes, it is one of the official languages of India

Derived forms of Sanskrit

Sanskritist, noun

Word Origin for Sanskrit

C17: from Sanskrit samskrta perfected, literally: put together

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

Cultural definitions for Sanskrit

Sanskrit

The language of ancient India, and one of the oldest languages of the Indo-European family, to which English belongs.