Sikh

American  

[seek, sik] / sik, sɪk /

noun

1. 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.

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adjective

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

Sikh British  

/ siːk /

noun

1. 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

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adjective

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

Other Word Forms

• Sikhism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Sikh

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

Example Sentences

His portrait of Sikh separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale captured a moment heavy with tension and consequence.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

“I had Punjabi music playing on my laptop once, and a Sikh student who didn’t know much about culture heard it and said, “This is really nice — who is this artist?”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

After 9/11, she worked for the ACLU, representing the Sikh community in a series of discrimination lawsuits.

From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026

She led a Sikh prayer at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in 2024.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Now I look at him and think Sikh.

From "The Night Diary" by Veera Hiranandani

Related Words

• adherent
• believer
• devotee