Panchayat
पंचायत
puhn-CHAH-yut
Panchayat (पंचायत) is a Sanskrit-origin word used in Indian English, meaning a village council in India for local governance. In crosswords it is the 9-letter answer PANCHAYAT (9).
Meaning & usage
Panchayat refers to a traditional system of local self-governance in Indian villages. It is composed of elected representatives who make decisions on local issues and disputes, functioning as a grassroots level of democracy. The term is derived from the Sanskrit word 'panch' meaning five, originally referring to a council of five elders. Panchayati Raj is the system that formalizes this governance structure in rural India.
In a sentence
The village Panchayat held a meeting to discuss the new development projects.
Panchayat as a crossword answer
Panchayat is a 9-letter answer. A typical clue:
“A village council in India for local governance” (9)
Know a word we’re missing? Submit a word.