induna

American

[in-doo-nuh] / ɪnˈdu nə /

noun

an official functionary of a king or chief in South African Bantu societies.

induna British

/ ɪnˈduːnə /

noun

(in South Africa) a Black African overseer in a factory, mine, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of induna

Borrowed into English from Zulu around 1870–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The lead induna, or head man, resplendent in hyena tails and impala, monkey and civet skins, carried an Instamatic.

From Time Magazine Archive

Unfortunately, their friend was Mr. Festile, the induna at the Chamber of Mines who had been present when Justice and I met with Mr. Wellbeloved.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

I was assisted by Mr. Festile, the induna at the Chamber of Mines, who was once again playing a fateful role in my life.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

We went straight to the chief induna, or headman.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Although we swore this fellow to secrecy, he went straightaway to the induna and revealed our secret.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023