Himalayan

1 of 2

adjective

Hi·​ma·​la·​yan ˌhi-mə-ˈlā-ən 

hi-ˈmäl-yən,

-ˈmä-lē-ən 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling the Himalayas

2

: enormously large : mountainous

a task of Himalayan proportions

Himalayan

2 of 2

noun

: any of a breed of domestic cats developed by crossing the Persian and the Siamese and having the stocky build and long thick coat of the former and the blue eyes and coat patterns of the latter

Illustration of Himalayan

Synonyms

Adjective

• giant
• vast
• gigantic
• huge
• enormous
• mountainous
• mammoth
• tremendous
• massive
• colossal
• astronomical
• immense
• astronomic
• bumper
• monumental
• oceanic
• mighty
• monster
• titanic
• cosmic

Examples of Himalayan in a Sentence

Adjective

as military blunders go, the disastrous Pickett's Charge was of Himalayan proportions

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Environmentalists have also long warned that rampant development in the Himalayan state is an ecological catastrophe waiting to happen. —Taylor Ward, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025

The debut of the $100,000 Aupen Himalayan bag marks Ortega’s second time carrying a piece by the luxury handbag brand, following her earlier appearance with the Nirvana bag. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Himalayan

• layin
• rayon
• malayan
• nuclein
• verstehen

Kids Definition

Himalayan

1 of 2 adjective

Hi·​ma·​la·​yan ˌhim-ə-ˈlā-ən  him-ˈäl-(ə-)yən 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Himalaya Mountains

Himalayan

2 of 2 noun

: any of a breed of stocky blue-eyed domestic cats that have a long thick coat and a pale body with darker ears, paws, tail, and face