What does "hijra" mean?
A eunuch in South Asia, especially one who dresses as a woman.
Hijra
/ˈhɪd͡ʒɹə/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A eunuch in South Asia, especially one who dresses as a woman.
- Grammar: hijra is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: hegira.
- Usage evidence: Since the Muslim lunar year contains only 354 days, the year 2005 is approximately equivalent to Hijra 1426.
How to use "hijra"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hijra" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "hijra" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "hijra" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "hijra" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "hijra" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "hegira" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "hijra", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A eunuch in South Asia, especially one who dresses as a woman.
"When the Mughal court was disbanded, Muslim hijras were exposed for the first time to the other, Hindu, tradition of eunuchry."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Hijra. alt-of
- 3 A (typically biologically male or intersex, but sometimes biologically female) member of a somewhat feminine third gender found in India and Pakistan.
"The subjects of this study are hijras or the "third sex" of India, individuals who occupy a unique, liminal space between male and female, sacred and profane."
- 4 Any similar flight or emigration to a better place.
- 5 Emigration from a non-Muslim country to a Muslim one.
"Hijrah means Moving from a land of Shirk to a land of Islaam."
Proper Noun
- 1 The flight of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Yathrib (later Medina) in 622 ce, which forms the first year of the Islamic era (ah 1).
- 2 AH: the Islamic era, dated from the Hijra.
"Since the Muslim lunar year contains only 354 days, the year 2005 is approximately equivalent to Hijra 1426."
- 3 The Islamic calendar, dated from the Hijra.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Since the Muslim lunar year contains only 354 days, the year 2005 is approximately equivalent to Hijra 1426."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "hijra"?
Common synonyms include: hegira.
How do you use "hijra" in a sentence?
Since the Muslim lunar year contains only 354 days, the year 2005 is approximately equivalent to Hijra 1426.
How do you pronounce "hijra"?
Pronounced /ˈhɪd͡ʒɹə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Arabic هِجْرَة (hijra, “departure, exodus”), used in reference to Muhammad’s flight from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, from the verb هَجَرَ (hajara, “emigrate, to abandon”). Doublet of Hegira, which went through Latin.
Etymology 2
From Hindi हीजड़ा (hījṛā).
Etymology 3
From Arabic هِجْرَة (hijra, “departure, exodus”). Doublet of hegira.