uhuru
Americannoun
noun
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national independence
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freedom
Usage
What is uhuru? Uhuru is a Swahili term meaning freedom or independence. Uhuru is often used to describe the freedom of a country to govern itself, especially in parts of Africa where Swahili is spoken. In Kenya, uhuru was used frequently in the mid-1900s when Kenya was gaining independence from the United Kingdom. Uhuru is also the first name of Kenya’s fourth president, Uhuru Kenyatta. He is the leader of the Jubilee Party of Kenya’s political system. Example: On Jamhuri Day, Mukondi likes to watch the uhuru parades.
Etymology
Origin of uhuru
C20: from Swahili
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Kenyatta echoed the cry of uhuru, then, lifting a Bible high in his right hand, he took the oath of office as Prime Minister of self-governing Kenya.
From Time Magazine Archive
As Ashanti's output tumbled, the first sub-Saharan colony liberated from colonialism never did live up to Nkrumah's promise that "all else" would follow the act of uhuru, freedom.
From Time Magazine Archive
After a disappointing political comedown following uhuru, he felt the country did not need him.
From Time Magazine Archive
A torch was lighted on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, and Julius Nyerere became the first East African leader to have achieved uhuru.
From Time Magazine Archive
With uhuru an accomplished fact, party discipline was crumbling.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
