Brahmin

[ brah-min ]

noun

, plural Brah·min, Brah·mins.

1. Hinduism. Brahman ¹( def 1 ).
2. (especially in New England) a person usually from an old, respected family who, because of wealth and social position, wields considerable social, economic, and political power.
3. a person who is intellectually or socially aloof.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a Brahmin:

   the Brahmin attitudes of a true aristocrat.

Brahmin

/ ˈbrɑːmɪn /

noun

1. the older spelling of Brahman
2. (in the US) a highly intelligent or socially exclusive person, esp a member of one of the older New England families
3. an intellectual or social snob

Derived Forms

• Brahˈminic, adjective

Other Words From

• Brah·min·ic [brah-, min, -ik], Brah·mini·cal adjective
• non-Brah·minic adjective
• non-Brah·mini·cal adjective
• un-Brah·mini·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Brahmin¹

First recorded in 1475–85; variant of Brahman ¹

Example Sentences

The content they share is wide-ranging, but recurring themes include descriptions of "the ideal" Brahmin or Dalit man and a strong rejection of inter-caste marriages.

From BBC

The shrine's managing board mirrors this sense of respectful co-existence - while two of its trustees are Muslims, its hereditary custodians are from a Hindu Brahmin family.

From BBC

The production studio sent a letter to a right-wing group linked to the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, apologizing for having “hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus and Brahmins community.”

From New York Times

Annapoorani’s father, a Brahmin sitting at the top of Hindu society’s caste ladder, doesn’t want her to cook meat, a taboo in their lineage.

From New York Times

The movie stars actor Nayanthara as a Hindu Brahmin woman who aspires to become a chef.

From BBC

Related Words

• debutante