English Reference

Word

raj

US/ˈɹɑdʒ/

UK/ɹˈædʒ/

Definitions

01the British Raj

C1

n. the period of time from 1858 to 1947 when the British government ruled India.

n. the period of direct British colonial rule over the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947.

“Many buildings in the city were built during the time of the Raj.”

“Historians often debate the long-term economic and social consequences of the Raj on the development of modern South Asian nations.”

Formal

Usage

Usually capitalized and preceded by 'the'.

Synonyms

British rulecolonial administration

02reign or rule

C2

n. a general word for a kingdom, a reign, or the power of a ruler.

n. sovereignty, kingdom, or the exercise of political authority.

“The old stories speak of a peaceful raj that lasted for a hundred years.”

“The local prince maintained his raj through a delicate balance of traditional loyalty and modern administrative reforms.”

Literary · Dialect

Usage

Primarily found in South Asian English or historical literature.

Real-World Examples

“At the time, Nawanagar was one of more than 500 nominally sovereign Indian princely states ruled by local monarchs, as opposed to provinces under the the direct administration of the British Raj.”
Smithsonian Magazine · 22 Jul 2026

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference