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When British trading posts were established in the Indian subcontinent in the 17th century, English speakers were immersed in the rich languages of the region, and Europeans quickly began adopting local words into their own vocabularies. By the end of the 1700s, Hindi contributions to our language ran from ayah (a term for a nurse or maid) to zamindar (a collector of land taxes or revenues). When English speakers borrowed raj around 1800, they used exactly the same spelling and meaning as its Hindi parent (the Hindi word in turn traces to an older term that is related to the Sanskrit word for "king"). Other words of Hindi descent that are now common in English include chintz, pundit, bungalow, veranda, seersucker, and bandanna.
Examples of raj in a Sentence
Arvind Subramanian, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
Some Indians, such as upper-caste urbanites, were loyal to the raj — British rule over India — and fought enthusiastically for the Allies, but the vast majority volunteered because they were offered land, a stable salary and steady meals.
—Maria Abi-Habib, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2020
There can be very little doubt that many of the labour law provisions in India are excessively intrusive, effectively help neither the workers nor the employers, and instead have strengthened license-inspector-raj and rent-seeking.
—Saurabh Bhattacharjee, Quartz India, 13 May 2020
The raj’s administrators were blind to their role in socialising and as subterranean caravanserais.
—The Economist, 13 July 2019
Theaters, dance halls, cafes, racecourses and other businesses came along to keep the upholders of the raj entertained.
—Payal Dhar, Washington Post, 5 July 2019
The Treasury has proposed to set up a regulatory raj for the U.S. financial system at the same time India is embracing deregulation.
—Peter J. Wallison, WSJ, 6 Dec. 2017
The modern spread of Christianity in India was spurred by British raj and Western missionaries, though Syrian Christians were often critical conduits.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2012
Cite this Entry
“Raj.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raj. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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