Sikh

[ sik, seek ]

/ sɪk, sik /

Save This Word!

noun

a member of a monotheistic religion, founded in the Punjab about 1500 by the guru Nanak, that refuses to recognize the Hindu caste system or the Brahmanical priesthood and forbids magic, idolatry, and pilgrimages.

adjective

of or relating to the Sikhs or to their religion and practices.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Sikh

First recorded in 1750–60; from Hindi: literally, “disciple,” from Sanskrit śiṣya-

Words nearby Sikh

sika, Sikandarabad, Sikang, sike, Sikeston, Sikh, sikhara, Sikhism, Si Kiang, Siking, Sikkim

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Sikh in a sentence

Singh, a follower of the Sikh faith who had come to the United States from India, died trying to save his colleagues.
At home, tiki bars and beer caves shielded them from life’s troubles. They were killed at work.|Faiz Siddiqui, Silvia Foster-Frau, Marc Fisher|May 27, 2021|Washington Post
Some Sikh men were beaten so badly they had to be hospitalized.
11 Moments From Asian American History That You Should Know|Olivia B. Waxman|April 30, 2021|Time
Just days after Vaisakhi—the harvest festival that marks the start of the Sikh New Year—America’s Sikh community was left petrified by a bloody massacre.
The FedEx mass shooting has reopened old wounds for America’s Sikh community|Ananya Bhattacharya|April 19, 2021|Quartz
Among the eight victims who died in the mass shooting at an Indianapolis FedEx Facility on April 15, four were Sikh.
The FedEx mass shooting has reopened old wounds for America’s Sikh community|Ananya Bhattacharya|April 19, 2021|Quartz

Police say that the three activists held a Zoom meeting with a “pro-Khalistani” organization in Canada, referring to a Sikh independence movement, according to local media.
What the Arrest of Disha Ravi, a Climate Activist Linked to Greta Thunberg, Says About India’s Crackdown on Dissent|Amy Gunia|February 16, 2021|Time
“After my experiences in 1984, I felt that it was unsafe for me to live as a Sikh in India,” said Singh.
As 30-Year Anniversary of Mass Killings in India Arrives, Sikhs Find Safety in USA|Simran Jeet Singh|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Note: Muslim and Sikh are not races but religions, and identifiers can be worn by people of any race.
How Not to Reply to a Racist Tweet|Tauriq Moosa|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And many of my Sikh friends have shared with me a history of racial slurs and menacing stares they have endured over the years.
New York’s Sikhs Need Their Own Al Sharpton|Dean Obeidallah|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2004, two Sikh men were viciously beaten by young white assailants while walking on the sidewalk.
New York’s Sikhs Need Their Own Al Sharpton|Dean Obeidallah|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And in 2009, two Sikh men were attacked on the NYC subway after being accused of being related to Bin Laden.
New York’s Sikhs Need Their Own Al Sharpton|Dean Obeidallah|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Sikh army has now, without a shadow of provocation, invaded the British territories.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan
Terms of peace were agreed on; and one of the stipulations between the two states was the disbandment of the Sikh force.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan
The Sikh ranks had been mainly recruited from our disbanded Sepoy soldiery and deserters.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan
There were many Sikh regiments belonging to our army in the black days of the Mutiny, and some wavered, but some held firm.
Round the Wonderful World|G. E. Mitton
The Sikh soldiers, who had risen in mutiny against their own leaders, fell back and yielded their strong position.
A History of the Nineteenth Century, Year by Year|Edwin Emerson

British Dictionary definitions for Sikh

Sikh

/ (siːk) /

noun

a member of an Indian religion that separated from Hinduism and was founded in the 16th century, that teaches monotheism and that has the Granth as its chief religious document, rejecting the authority of the Vedas

adjective

of or relating to the Sikhs or their religious beliefs and customs

Derived forms of Sikh

Sikhism, noun

Word Origin for Sikh

C18: from Hindi, literally: disciple, from Sanskrit śiksati he studies

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