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Definition of kanpur
kanpur
/ˈkɑːnpʊər/
kan · pur
kanpur Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A major industrial city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, situated on the southern banks of the Ganges River, historically renowned for its extensive leather and textile manufacturing industries.
Example
"During our tour of northern India, we traveled to Kanpur to study its rich industrial development and its prominent historical role in the 1857 rebellion."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derives from the Hindi word 'Kanhapur', meaning 'town of Kanh' (associated with Lord Krishna), though some historians trace it to 'Karnapur', named after the ancient Indian hero Karna. It was widely anglicized as 'Cawnpore' during British colonial rule.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kanpur. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kanpur