English Reference

Word

mahatma

Phoneticsma·hat·ma

US/məˈhɑtmə/

UK/mˈæhætmɐ/

Definition

n. a title given to a person who is very wise, holy, and respected. It is most famous as the name people used for the Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi.

n. a person regarded with deep reverence for their wisdom and holiness. Derived from Sanskrit, meaning 'great soul', and primarily used as an honorific for spiritual or political leaders in South Asia.

Examples

“The people called him a mahatma because of his peaceful life.”

“The spiritual leader was honored as a mahatma for his lifelong commitment to non-violence and social justice.”

Examples

simple

“The people called him a mahatma because of his peaceful life.”

contextual

“The spiritual leader was honored as a mahatma for his lifelong commitment to non-violence and social justice.”

Usage

Often used as a title before a name, in which case it is capitalized.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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