swami

or swa·my

[swah-mee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR swami ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural swa·mies.

an honorific title given to a Hindu religious teacher.

a person resembling a swami, especially in authority, critical judgment, etc.; pundit: The swamis are saying the stock market is due for a drop.

Origin of swami

1765–75; < Sanskrit svāmī, nominative singular of svāmin master, owner

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for swami

guru, mystic, yogi, sage, master, mentor, teacher

Examples from the Web for swami

Contemporary Examples of swami

While for some devotees there was no matter too trivial on which to consult him—“Swami Ji, should I cut my hair?”
The Fugitive Guru
Ben Crair
June 21, 2011
She just yelled at me and told me I had to go work things out with Swami Ji.
The Fugitive Guru
Ben Crair
June 21, 2011
In April, I met in Manhattan with Swami Nikhilanand Ji, a JKP preacher who studied at Barsana Dham.
The Fugitive Guru
Ben Crair
June 21, 2011

Historical Examples of swami

And you knew, right away, that Swami was a phony from Flatbush.
Sense from Thought Divide
Mark Irvin Clifton
"Float me over that ash tray there on the desk," I said casually to the Swami.
Sense from Thought Divide
Mark Irvin Clifton
The Swami couldn't keep the triumphant glitter out of his eyes.
Sense from Thought Divide
Mark Irvin Clifton
This was probably not typical of the Swami's usual audience composition.
Sense from Thought Divide
Mark Irvin Clifton
I sat down at the opposite side of the table from the Swami.
Sense from Thought Divide
Mark Irvin Clifton

British Dictionary definitions for swami

swami

noun plural -mies or -mis

(in India) a title of respect for a Hindu saint or religious teacher

Word Origin for swami

C18: from Hindi svāmī, from Sanskrit svāmin master, from sva one's own

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

Word Origin and History for swami

1773, " an idol," later, "religious teacher" (1901), from Hindi swami "master" (used as a term of address to a Brahmin), from Sanskrit svami (genitive svaminas) "lord, master," from sva-s "one's own" (cognate with Latin sui; see idiom) + amah "pressure, vehemence."