Bindi

//bɪn.di// name, noun

name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The “holy dot” traditionally worn on the forehead of Hindu women.

    "Actually… a six-figure advance? What the hell, dudes, I'm donning a sari and bindi and penning a novel called, let's see, how about Manchesterstani? My old desi m8s the rude girls of Moss Side have never before been captured in fiction. Int dat da truth, rude girls?"

  2. 2
    The common lawn weed, Soliva sessilis, introduced to Australia from South America. Australia, countable, uncountable
  3. 3
    Alternative form of bhindi (“okra”). India, alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    Makeup or jewellery worn in imitation of such a dot.
  5. 5
    A seed of this plant, having small sharp spines which stick painfully into bare feet. Australia, countable, uncountable
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    Any of a number of plants of the genus Calotis which have small burrs with fine barbed awns. Australia, countable, uncountable
  2. 7
    Any of various plants of the genus Sclerolaena. Australia, countable, uncountable
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A locality in the Shire of East Gippsland, eastern Victoria, Australia.
  2. 2
    A female given name.

Example

More examples

"After being sworn in Wednesday as Raigarh's mayor, Kinnar — wearing a white sari and pink lipstick, with a large red bindi decorating her forehead — was greeted by cheering supporters who placed marigold garlands around her neck, television footage showed."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Hindi बिंदी (bindī).

Etymology 2

Clipping of bindi-eye.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.