Brahmin

[ brah-min ]
/ ˈbrɑ mɪn /

noun, plural Brah·min, Brah·mins.

Hinduism. Brahman1(def 1).
(especially in New England) a person usually from an old, respected family who, because of wealth and social position, wields considerable social, economic, and political power.
a person who is intellectually or socially aloof.

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of a Brahmin: the Brahmin attitudes of a true aristocrat.

Origin of Brahmin

First recorded in 1475–85; variant of Brahman1

OTHER WORDS FROM Brahmin

Brah·min·ic [brah-min-ik] /brɑˈmɪn ɪk/, Brah·min·i·cal, adjective non-Brah·min·ic, adjective non-Brah·min·i·cal, adjective un-Brah·min·i·cal, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH Brahmin

Brahman Brahmin

Example sentences from the Web for brahmins

British Dictionary definitions for brahmins

Brahmin
/ (ˈbrɑːmɪn) /

noun plural -min or -mins

the older spelling of Brahman (def. 1)
(in the US) a highly intelligent or socially exclusive person, esp a member of one of the older New England families
an intellectual or social snob

Derived forms of Brahmin

Brahminic or Brahminical, adjective

Cultural definitions for brahmins

Brahmins
[ (brah-minz) ]

The highest of the four major castes of Hinduism. Brahmins are followers of Brahma and were originally all priests.

notes for Brahmins

The name is often given to socially or culturally privileged classes, such as “Boston Brahmins.”