Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

panchayat

noun pan·cha·yat
variants: or less commonly panchayet or punchayet \(ˌ)pənˈchäyət, -chīət\

Definition of panchayat

plural -s
1 : a village council in India:
a : a former group of five influential older men acknowledged by the community as its governing body
b : an elective council of about five members organized in the republic of India as an organ of village self-government
2 : a Parsi council of six dasturs and ten mobeds regulating secular affairs

There's more!

Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!
Already a subscriber? Log in.

Origin and Etymology of panchayat

Hindi pañcāyat, from Sanskrit pañca five

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up panchayat? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games