What does "maratha" mean?

A Hindu caste (or caste cluster) that is particularly associated with the Indian state of Maharashtra; a member of said caste.

What is a synonym for "maratha"?

Common synonyms include: cultural, ethnic, historic, imperial era, mahratta, mahratti.

Pronounced //məˈɾaː.ʈʰə //.

/məˈɾaː.ʈʰə / name, noun

name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Noun

1
A Hindu caste (or caste cluster) that is particularly associated with the Indian state of Maharashtra; a member of said caste.
"2004, D. L. Sheth, Ram Manohar Lohia on Caste in Indian Politics, [extracts from 1996, Lokayan Bulletin], Ghanshyam Shah (editor), Caste and Democratic Politics in India, Wimbledon Publishing Company (Anthem Press), page 81, The Marathas are a peculiar caste of Maharashtra, who claim to be Kshatriyas but are more like the cultivator-Sudras of north India."
2
a member of a people of India living in Maharashtra wordnet
3
A Marathi-speaking people particularly associated with Maharashtra; a member of said people (regardless of caste); frequently used attributively.
"(3) Maratha vessels were to have free access to all French ports, and vice versa."

Proper Noun

"Shivaji founded the Maratha Empire, and his first Peshwa was Moropant Pingle."

Borrowed from Marathi मराठा (marāṭhā). Doublet of Maharashtra.