# sahib

/sˈæhɪb/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sahib
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a polite title that people in India used to use for men, especially those in positions of power or authority. It was very common during the time of British rule.

For teachers: a term of respect used in colonial India for a man of rank or a European. Often appended to a name or title as a mark of deference.

## Examples

- The local workers addressed the manager as sahib.
- In many historical novels set in India, the servants address their employers as 'sahib' to show respect.
- The use of 'sahib' as a formal honorific has largely faded from modern administrative parlance, though it persists in certain rural dialects and historical literature.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a suffix following a name or profession, such as 'Doctor-sahib' or 'Burra-sahib'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.