memsahib

noun

mem·sa·hib ˈmem-ˌsä-ˌ(h)ib

-ˌsäb

: a white foreign woman of high social status living in India

especially : the wife of a British official

Word History

Etymology

Hindi, from English ma'am + Hindi & Urdu sahib sahib

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of memsahib was in 1832

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MEMS

memsahib

men-

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Memsahib.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/memsahib. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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