banjara
|ban-ja-ra|
/bənˈdʒɑːrə/
nomadic trader / ethnic tribe
Etymology
'banjara' originates from Hindi (and related Indo-Aryan languages), specifically the word 'banjara' used in regional speech to denote the community; it is probably ultimately linked to Sanskrit roots related to trade such as 'vanij' meaning 'merchant'.
'banjara' entered English through colonial-era accounts and ethnographic records in the 18th–19th centuries from Hindi/Marathi/Prakrit forms (e.g. regional pronunciations like 'banjara' or 'vanjara') and became the English ethnonym 'banjara'.
Initially it referred to the occupational role of an itinerant trader or carrier ('merchant' or 'itinerant trader'), but over time it came to denote the ethnic group and their descendants as a social/ethnic identity ('Banjara' people).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a member of the Banjara people, a traditionally nomadic trading community of India (also called Lambadi or Vanjara).
A banjara greeted the travelers and offered them food.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the Banjara people as a whole — a nomadic/seminomadic ethnic group in India known for trade, crafts, and distinctive dress.
The banjara are known for their colorful embroidery and jewelry.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/11 19:36