Vaishnava

noun

Vaish·​na·​va ˈvīsh-nə-və How to pronounce Vaishnava (audio)
: a worshipper of Vishnu in any of his forms or incarnations
Vaishnava adjective
Vaishnavism noun

Examples of Vaishnava in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are for example people today who are half-Chinese & half-English devotees of Vaishnava Hinduism. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2010

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Vaishnava.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Sanskrit vaiṣṇava- "of Vishnu," derivative of Viṣṇu vishnu

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Vaishnava was in 1808

Dictionary Entries Near Vaishnava

Cite this Entry

“Vaishnava.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Vaishnava. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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