Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

satyagraha

noun
sa·tya·gra·ha | \(ˌ)sə-ˈtyä-grə-hə, ˈsə-tyə-\

Definition of satyagraha 

: pressure for social and political reform through friendly passive resistance practiced by M. K. Gandhi and his followers in India

First Known Use of satyagraha

1920, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for satyagraha

New Sanskrit satyāgraha, from Sanskrit satya truth + āgraha persistence

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about satyagraha

Share satyagraha

Resources for satyagraha

Cite Time Traveler Time Traveler! Explore the year a word first appeared

Dictionary Entries near satyagraha

saturnism

Saturn line

saturn red

satyagraha

satyagrahi

Satyarthi

satyr

Statistics for satyagraha

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for satyagraha

The first known use of satyagraha was in 1920

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on satyagraha

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about satyagraha

Comments on satyagraha

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

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

mawkish

exaggeratedly or childishly emotional

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Roman Mythology Quiz

  • the-triumph-of-venus-by-alessandro-magnasco
  • Boreal comes from the name of the ancient Greek god of which wind?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

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