zamindari

or zem·in·da·ry

[ zam-in-dahr-ee, zem-, zuh-meen- ]

noun

, plural zam·in·da·ris.

1. (in British India) the system of landholding and tax collection by zamindars.
2. (in British India) the office or territory held or administered by a zamindar.
3. (in Mogul India) the system of collecting farm revenue, a fixed sum based on the assigned district.

zamindari

/ zəmiːnˈdɑːrɪ /

noun

1. (in India) a large agricultural estate

Word History and Origins

Origin of zamindari¹

First recorded in 1740–50; from Hindi or Urdu zamīndārī, from Persian zamīndārī, a derivative of zamīndār, equivalent of zamīn “land, ground”+ -dār a combining form meaning “holder” + -i noun suffix

Example Sentences

Besides these lands in the hands of the government, there are also proprietary or zamindari estates in all parts of the country.

From Project Gutenberg

The total area of the zamindari estates is about 26 million acres, more than one-fourth of the whole presidency.

From Project Gutenberg

In the other provinces variations of the zamindari and ryotwari systems are found.

From Project Gutenberg