guru

American  

[goor-oo, goo-roo] / ˈgʊər u, gʊˈru /

noun

1. Hinduism. a preceptor giving personal religious instruction.

2. an intellectual or spiritual guide or leader.

3. any person who counsels or advises; mentor.

   The elder senator was her political guru.

4. a leader in a particular field.

   the city's cultural gurus.

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guru British  

/ ˈɡuːruː, ˈɡʊruː /

noun

1. a Hindu or Sikh religious teacher or leader, giving personal spiritual guidance to his disciples

2. derogatory a leader or chief theoretician of a movement, esp a spiritual or religious cult

3. facetious a leading authority in a particular field

   a cricketing guru

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guru Cultural  

1. In Hinduism, a teacher or spiritual leader.

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Discover More

By extension, a “guru” is a teacher who attracts disciples or followers.

Other Word Forms

• guruship noun

Etymology

Origin of guru

1820–30; < Hindi gurū < Sanskrit guru venerable, weighty

Example Sentences

Bill Ackman, aspiring to replace him as the world’s leading investment guru, thinks the time has come to act on that advice.

From Barron's

GM’s battery gurus are of largely the same mind.

From The Wall Street Journal

Beaver is one of those manosphere gurus who preside over dismal power-of-positive-thinking seminars in hotel conference rooms where lost men gather for advice on how to win.

From The Wall Street Journal

She said he seemed unprepared, a position she said was surprising for “the guru” whose products were at the center of this case.

From The Wall Street Journal

Not many biologists sell millions of books, make frequent appearances on late-night talk shows and achieve guru status.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• master
• teacher
• tutor