zamindar

noun

za·​min·​dar ˈza-mən-ˌdär How to pronounce zamindar (audio) ˈze- How to pronounce zamindar (audio)
zə-ˌmēn-ˈdär
variants or zemindar
1
: a collector of the land revenue of a district for the government during the period of Mogul rule in India
2
: a feudal landlord in British India paying the government a fixed revenue

Examples of zamindar in a Sentence

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.
The cityscape included impressive marble edifices built by the British and palatial homes constructed by the rich merchants and zamindars (landowners). Diya Kohli, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2024 Around Hyderabad in south-central India, many of the baolis were built by kings and zamindars. The Economist, 13 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu zamīndār, from Persian, from zamīn land + -dār holder

First Known Use

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of zamindar was in 1683

Dictionary Entries Near zamindar

Cite this Entry

“Zamindar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zamindar. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on zamindar

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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