noun
fakir
fuh-KEER
noun
1
A Muslim or Hindu religious ascetic who lives by begging and owns little or no property.
"The fakir sat by the roadside, having given up all worldly possessions."
2
A wandering performer known for feats of endurance, once associated with such ascetics.
"The fakir amazed the crowd by lying on a bed of nails."
How to Use Fakir
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA religious beggar or ascetic, traditionally associated with feats of physical endurance.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "faker" — a fakir is a religious ascetic, while a faker is simply someone who pretends or deceives.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
fakirs plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “fakir”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ sat by the roadside, having given up all worldly possessions.
Etymology
Borrowed from Arabic faqīr, meaning "poor man."