noun
maharaja
mah-hah-RAH-juh
Maharaja (noun) means a Hindu prince or king of high rank, especially in historical India, ranking above an ordinary raja. Example: “The old fort once belonged to a local maharaja.”
noun
1
A Hindu prince or king of high rank, especially in historical India, ranking above an ordinary raja.
"I speak from a very intimate knowledge of their ways and habits after having spent a very happy twenty years amongst them with friends in every degree, from the Maharaja himself to some of the humblest coolies."
— John Claude White, Sikhim and Bhutan (1909)
"The old fort once belonged to a local maharaja."
"Benny: Hey, T.C., what's a maharaja? Top Cat: What's a what? Benny: A maharaja. Top Cat: Oh, do I look like Daniel Webster? I didn't write no dictionary."
— , The Maharajah of Pookajee (1961)
How to use maharaja
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA high-ranking Indian prince or king, more senior than a regular raja.
Common pairings
the maharaja's palace
a former maharaja
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like maharaja.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- maharajas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old fort once belonged to a local _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from Hindi maharaja, literally "great king" — first recorded in English in the late 17th century.
Class of 1600
maharaja joined the language around 1600.
See the full Class of 1600 →
Synonyms
View more →
maharajah
Rhymes for maharaja
See all rhymes for maharaja →Frequently asked questions
What does “maharaja” mean?
The word “maharaja” means a Hindu prince or king of high rank, especially in historical India, ranking above an ordinary raja. In plain terms, a high-ranking Indian prince or king, more senior than a regular raja.
How do you pronounce “maharaja”?
“Maharaja” is pronounced mah-hah-RAH-juh (/ˌmɑ.hɑˈɹɑː.d͡ʒə/ in IPA).
How do you use “maharaja” in a sentence?
Here is “maharaja” used in a sentence: “The old fort once belonged to a local maharaja.”
What part of speech is “maharaja”?
“Maharaja” is a noun.
Where does the word “maharaja” come from?
The word “maharaja” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Hindi. Borrowed from Hindi maharaja, literally "great king" — first recorded in English in the late 17th century.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include maharaja:
