yogin

Yogin is a Sanskrit term that designates a practitioner of yoga or a person who pursues the yogic path toward spiritual liberation. In many Hindu texts, a yogin is described as someone who has committed to sustained practice—such as concentration, breath control, ethics, and meditation—with the goal of union with the divine or the true nature of the self. The term is gendered in Sanskrit, with yogini used for a female practitioner.

Etymology: from the root yuj meaning to yoke or unite, plus the agentive suffix -in, yielding “one who yokes” or “one who unites” through practice. In transliteration from Sanskrit, yogin appears alongside yogi; the latter is more common in English-language usage, while yogin appears in classical texts.

Historical usage: In classical literature, yogin is used to refer to practitioners and realized sages within various yogic and spiritual traditions. The term appears in discussions of meditation, self-discipline, and the pursuit of liberation. Across traditions, the yogin is often depicted as mastering the senses, cultivating steadiness of mind, and developing discernment through sustained practice.

Modern usage: Today, yogin is still used in some Hindu lineages and in academic or traditional contexts to emphasize a serious or advanced practitioner. In everyday English-language usage, yogi is more common, but yogin remains a standard transliteration found in Sanskrit glossaries and historical texts.