bombay
n. countablen. the former name of the large city in India now called Mumbai. People used this name officially until 1995.
n. the historical name for the Indian city of Mumbai, used officially until the mid-1990s. Often encountered in historical texts, literature, or when referring to specific cultural exports like cinema.
My grandfather lived in Bombay for many years.
Many older residents still refer to the city as Bombay despite the official name change to Mumbai decades ago.
The transition from Bombay to Mumbai reflected a broader movement to reclaim indigenous Marathi identity over the colonial nomenclature established during British rule.
From Portuguese Bombaim, possibly from Marathi मुंबादेवी (mumbādevī, “goddess Mumba”) or from bom + baim. Most likely a combination of both.
When used as a proper name for the city, it is always capitalized.