fakir

[ fuh-keer, fey-ker ]

noun

1. a Muslim or Hindu religious ascetic or mendicant monk commonly considered a wonder-worker.
2. a member of any Islamic religious order; dervish.

fakir

/ fəˈkɪə; ˈfeɪkə; fəˈkɪə /

noun

1. a Muslim ascetic who rejects wordly possessions
2. a Hindu ascetic mendicant or holy man

Word History and Origins

Origin of fakir¹

First recorded in 1600–10, fakir is from the Arabic word faqīr “poor”

Word History and Origins

Origin of fakir¹

C17: from Arabic faqīr poor

Example Sentences

Many in India see the man who derided their patriotism, dismissed Mahatma Gandhi as a “seditious fakir” and failed to prevent the Bengal famine of 1943.

From Washington Post

"There isn't one fakir from the north to the south in Kashmir that we didn't meet. My daughters donated their gold jewellery to shrines. We will not give up," Aisha Wagay, Shakir's mother said.

From BBC

Am I an Indian fakir now, or just an Anglo-Indian faker?

From The Guardian

Seemingly miraculous powers have long been ascribed to yogis, fakirs, ascetics and jadoowallahs, or street magicians.

From Washington Post

Rushby’s descriptions of the landscape of Ethiopia are rich, and he interviews a slew of characters, including goldsmiths, fakirs and travelers.

From New York Times