Lingayat

noun

Lin·ga·yat liŋ-ˈgä-yət

: a member of a Saiva sect of southern India marked by wearing of the lingam and characterized by denial of caste distinctions

Word History

Etymology

Kannada lingāyata

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Lingayat was in 1901

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Browse Nearby Words

lingam

Lingayat

Lingayen Gulf

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Lingayat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Lingayat. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

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