a native of Bengal (also its lingua franca) A people in steady decline since 1947 (the year of the partition of Bengal), in sharp decline since 1970s, it has made major contributions in the arts and sciences, recognized (inadequately) by Nobel Prizes and (adequately) by top prizes at international film festivals
a Magadhan language spoken by the Bengali people; the official language of Bangladesh and Bengal an ethnic group speaking Bengali and living in Bangladesh and eastern India (Hinduism) a member of a people living in Bangladesh and West Bengal (mainly Hindus) of or relating to or characteristic of Bengal or its people; "Bengali hills