Pronunciation: ˌ pän-d ə - ' cher- ē , - ' sher-
Variant: or F Pon · di · ché · ry \ p ō n -d ē -sh ā - ' r ē \
Function: geographical name
1 union territory SE India SSW of Madras surrounded by Tamil Nadu; a settlement of French India before 1954, area 183 sq mi (474 sq km ), pop 973,829
2 city & port, its capital pop 220,749