Sikh

[ sik, seek ]

noun

1. a member of a monotheistic religion, founded in the Punjab about 1500 by the guru Nanak, that refuses to recognize the Hindu caste system or the Brahmanical priesthood and forbids magic, idolatry, and pilgrimages.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Sikhs or to their religion and practices.

Sikh

/ siːk /

noun

1. a member of an Indian religion that separated from Hinduism and was founded in the 16th century, that teaches monotheism and that has the Granth as its chief religious document, rejecting the authority of the Vedas

adjective

1. of or relating to the Sikhs or their religious beliefs and customs

Derived Forms

• ˈSikhˌism, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sikh¹

First recorded in 1750–60; from Hindi: literally, “disciple,” from Sanskrit śiṣya-

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sikh¹

C18: from Hindi, literally: disciple, from Sanskrit śiksati he studies

Example Sentences

Singh, a follower of the Sikh faith who had come to the United States from India, died trying to save his colleagues.

From Washington Post

Some Sikh men were beaten so badly they had to be hospitalized.

From Time

Just days after Vaisakhi—the harvest festival that marks the start of the Sikh New Year—America’s Sikh community was left petrified by a bloody massacre.

From Quartz

Among the eight victims who died in the mass shooting at an Indianapolis FedEx Facility on April 15, four were Sikh.

From Quartz

Police say that the three activists held a Zoom meeting with a “pro-Khalistani” organization in Canada, referring to a Sikh independence movement, according to local media.

From Time

“After my experiences in 1984, I felt that it was unsafe for me to live as a Sikh in India,” said Singh.

From The Daily Beast

Note: Muslim and Sikh are not races but religions, and identifiers can be worn by people of any race.

From The Daily Beast

And many of my Sikh friends have shared with me a history of racial slurs and menacing stares they have endured over the years.

From The Daily Beast

In 2004, two Sikh men were viciously beaten by young white assailants while walking on the sidewalk.

From The Daily Beast

And in 2009, two Sikh men were attacked on the NYC subway after being accused of being related to Bin Laden.

From The Daily Beast

The Sikh army has now, without a shadow of provocation, invaded the British territories.

From Project Gutenberg

Terms of peace were agreed on; and one of the stipulations between the two states was the disbandment of the Sikh force.

From Project Gutenberg

The Sikh ranks had been mainly recruited from our disbanded Sepoy soldiery and deserters.

From Project Gutenberg

There were many Sikh regiments belonging to our army in the black days of the Mutiny, and some wavered, but some held firm.

From Project Gutenberg

The Sikh soldiers, who had risen in mutiny against their own leaders, fell back and yielded their strong position.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adherent
• believer
• devotee