noun
Sherpa
SHPUH
noun
1
A member of a Himalayan ethnic group from Nepal and Tibet, well known for skill in high-altitude mountaineering.
"The expedition hired several Sherpas to help carry supplies up the mountain."
2
A local guide or porter, especially one from the Sherpa people, who helps mountaineers on an expedition.
"Their sherpa knew a safer route around the crevasse."
3
A senior official who does the background negotiating and preparation ahead of a major summit, such as a G7 or G20 meeting.
"The president's sherpa spent weeks hammering out the joint statement in advance."
4
A soft, thick-piled synthetic fabric resembling fleece or faux fur.
"The jacket has a cozy sherpa lining."
How to Use Sherpa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRefers to the Himalayan Sherpa people and their mountain guides, and by extension anyone who does the expert groundwork behind an important event — plus an unrelated cozy fleece-like fabric.
Common pairings
sherpa fleece
sherpa lining
hire a sherpa
Word Forms
sherpaed past tense, Sherpas plural, Sherpa plural, sherpas plural, sherpas singular
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Etymology
From the Tibetan word shar pa, meaning "eastern people," reflecting the community's origins in eastern Tibet before settling in the Nepalese highlands.