Lingayat

noun

Lin·​ga·​yat liŋ-ˈgä-yət How to pronounce Lingayat (audio)
: a member of a Saiva sect of southern India marked by wearing of the lingam and characterized by denial of caste distinctions

Word History

Etymology

Kannada lingāyata

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Lingayat was in 1901

Dictionary Entries Near Lingayat

lingam

Lingayat

Lingayen Gulf

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Cite this Entry

“Lingayat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Lingayat. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Lingayat

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