Himalayan

1 of 2

adjective

Hi·​ma·​la·​yan ˌhi-mə-ˈlā-ən How to pronounce Himalayan (audio)
hi-ˈmäl-yən
-ˈmä-lē-ən How to pronounce Himalayan (audio)
Synonyms of Himalayannext
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

Illustration of himalayan

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Himalayan pink salt, rich in 80 minerals, works to draw out impurities, while Centella asiatica helps keep everything calm and soothed. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026 Cucumbers were first cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of the Indian peninsula over 3000 years ago. Andrés Muedano, JSTOR Daily, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
Much of the Himalayan country is covered by mountains and connected only by narrow roads. Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026 In the steep, narrow valleys of the Himalayan Mountains, the impact of these events are acute: destroyed hydropower stations, roads and entire villages wiped away, taking hundreds of lives over the years. Dan McGrath, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Himalayan

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Himalayan was in 1835

Cite this Entry

“Himalayan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Himalayan. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

Himalayan

1 of 2 adjective
Hi·​ma·​la·​yan ˌhim-ə-ˈlā-ən How to pronounce Himalayan (audio) him-ˈäl-(ə-)yən How to pronounce Himalayan (audio)
: 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

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