guru
GOO-roo
/ˈɡʊruː/
A spiritual teacher or guide in Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism; informally, an influential authority or expert in a particular field.
Formally denotes a respected, venerated spiritual master; informally used in business/tech for self-proclaimed thought leaders.
The story behind the word. In ancient Sanskrit, 'guru' literally meant 'heavy' or 'weighty'—referring to a person who was 'heavy with knowledge and wisdom'. In Indian tradition, a guru is a spiritual guide who leads a student from darkness (gu) to light (ru). The word entered English during British rule in India and expanded into popular slang by the late 20th century.
Word relationships
- mentor: 'Mentor' implies a supportive advisor; 'guru' suggests deep expertise or a master-disciple hierarchy.
- master: 'Master' emphasizes skill dominance, while 'guru' highlights personal guidance and spiritual or intellectual leadership.
- disciple: A follower or student who learns from a master.
- novice: A beginner with no expertise or authority.
Commonly confused with
- pundit: A pundit gives political or media commentary; a guru provides deep guidance or expert direction to followers.
Word family
- gurudom (noun): The state, domain, or authority of a guru.
Collocations
- spiritual guru
- management guru
- tech guru
- fitness guru
Example sentences
- "The disciples traveled high into the Himalayas to seek wisdom from the elderly guru." Traditional spiritual context
- "The self-proclaimed tech guru charged thousands of dollars for his weekend leadership workshops." Modern business context
Memory hook
A GURU holds HEAVY (guru) knowledge that weighs down the room. Heavy with wisdom, guiding disciples.
When not to use
Avoid using in formal academic papers for modern experts unless highlighting their excessive personal influence.
Fun facts
- Sanskrit 'guru' comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *gwere- (heavy), which is also the direct ancestor of the Latin word 'gravis' (source of English 'grave' and 'gravity')!
Related words
Also appears in
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