Definition

A soldier from India who serves in the army of a foreign power, particularly one who served under British rule in India.

Example

During the colonial period, many sepoys fought bravely for the British army.

Conversation

I just read an interesting book about the life of a sepoy in colonial India.

That sounds fascinating! What was the main focus of the book?

It explored the challenges they faced and their role in the army.

I’d love to learn more about that part of history.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sepoy → The word 'sepoy' originates from the Persian 'sipāhī' (meaning soldier), which was adopted into the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal Empire to refer to native infantry soldiers serving in the armies of European colonial powers, particularly the British East India Company.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sipāhī' meaning soldier in Persian, which helps you remember that a sepoy is a soldier, specifically one from the Indian subcontinent serving in colonial armies.

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