swami

or swa·my

[ swah-mee ]

noun

, plural swa·mies.

1. an honorific title given to a Hindu religious teacher.
2. a person resembling a swami, especially in authority, critical judgment, etc.; pundit:

   The swamis are saying the stock market is due for a drop.

swami

/ ˈswɑːmɪ /

noun

1. (in India) a title of respect for a Hindu saint or religious teacher

Word History and Origins

Origin of swami¹

1765–75; < Sanskrit svāmī, nominative singular of svāmin master, owner

Word History and Origins

Origin of swami¹

C18: from Hindi svāmī, from Sanskrit svāmin master, from sva one's own

Example Sentences

But in her late teens, she found that the teachings of Vedanta Hinduism, largely known for its orders of swamis, or religious teachers, resonated with her.

From Seattle Times

“I respect her choice. In fact, I admire the choice Sally made. After all, she is a swami, isn’t she?”

From New York Times

The swami was “the first example I have seen in recent years of Universal Love … in action,” Alice Coltrane wrote in the album’s liner notes.

From New York Times

“So she had a swami — who was very close to her family — help her parents see that this was not just a fantasy but a real possibility.”

From New York Times

This week a popular swami named Baba Ramdev, whose cures are endorsed by some politicians in the ruling party, denounced “stupid science” while advertising “coronakits” of herbal remedies for sale.

From Washington Post