shikari

noun

shi·​ka·​ri shi-ˈkär-ē How to pronounce shikari (audio)
-ˈker-ē,
-ˈka-rē How to pronounce shikari (audio)
India
: a big game hunter
especially : a professional hunter or guide

Examples of shikari in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over the past decade or so, the most prolific shikari in Uttarakhand has been Joy Hukil. —Michael Benanav, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu shikārī, from Persian, from shikār hunt

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shikari was in 1827

Rhymes for shikari

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Browse Nearby Words

shikargah
shikari
Shikarpur
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shikari.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shikari. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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