variants
or Romany
plural Romani or Romanis or Romanies
1
: a member of a traditionally itinerant people who originated in northern India and now live chiefly in Europe and in smaller numbers throughout the world : rom entry 1
Racist violence against Romani in eastern Europe is reminiscent of pogroms against the Jews in the Tsarist Empire.—Donald Kenrick
Headlines in Europe this month have highlighted the continent's worst, and most ill-managed social problem: the treatment of millions of Romanies who face at best discrimination and at worst persecution.—The Economist
Note: Romani people are also referred to as Gypsies, a term that is still frequently encountered in English but is increasingly regarded as offensive.
2
: the Indo-Aryan language of the Romani
Today Romani exists in many dialects, reflecting the paths of Rom dispersion.—Carol Silverman
Others believe the source [of cushy] is more likely to be a different Indic language, Romany, where the word is kushto, "good."—Jan Freeman
Romani
adjective
or Romany
the Romani language
the Romani people
Cite this Entry
“Romani.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Romani. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
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