Vishnu

American  

[vish-noo] / ˈvɪʃ nu /

noun

Hinduism.

1. (in later Hinduism) “the Preserver,” the second member of the Trimurti, along with Brahma the Creator and Shiva the Destroyer.

2. (in popular Hinduism) a deity believed to have descended from heaven to earth in several incarnations, or avatars, varying in number from nine to twenty-two, but always including animals. His most important human incarnation is the Krishna of the Bhagavad-Gita.

3. “the Pervader,” one of a half-dozen solar deities in the Rig-Veda, daily traversing the sky in three strides, morning, afternoon, and night.

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Vishnu British  

/ ˈvɪʃnuː /

noun

1. Hinduism the Pervader or Sustainer: originally a solar deity occupying a secondary place in the Hindu pantheon; later one of the three chief gods, the second member of the Trimurti; and, later still, the saviour appearing in many incarnations

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Vishnu Cultural  

1. A deity of Hinduism, known as the Preserver. According to the Hindus, he has appeared as Krishna and as the Buddha.

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Other Word Forms

• Vishnuism noun

Etymology

Origin of Vishnu

From the Sanskrit word viṣṇu

Example Sentences

Former Maoist rebel Vishnu Madvi, 26, surrendered in January after seven years with the guerrillas.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

A second vessel, Greek-owned and Maltese-flagged Zefyros, was struck while it was in the middle of a ship-to-ship transfer with the Safesea Vishnu, the vessel's manager Benetech Shipping said.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

From the passenger seat, Vishnu Persaud coaches me on working the clutch: “So you’re going to slide your foot off the pedal. Just let the bottom of your foot pivot off your Achilles’ heel.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

Elsewhere, Vishnu Sridharan and I have called this the difference between offering “natural” and “created” reasons.

From Salon • Aug. 14, 2024

It told the story of Rama, one of the reincarnations of the god Vishnu, who fought a ten-headed demon to rescue his wife.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi