Janmashtami

noun

Jan·​mash·​ta·​mi

ˌjənˈmäshtəˌmē

plural -s

: a Hindu festival celebrating the birthday of the deified hero Krishna

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit janmāṣṭamī, from janma birth (from janati he begets) + aṣṭama eighth, from aṣṭā eight

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!