Buddhism

noun

: a religion of eastern and central Asia growing out of the teaching of Siddhārtha Gautama that suffering is inherent in life and that one can be liberated from it by cultivating wisdom, virtue, and concentration
Buddhist
ˈbü-dist How to pronounce Buddhism (audio)
ˈbu̇-
noun or adjective
Buddhistic adjective

Examples of Buddhism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Strands of atheist thought can be found in non-theistic traditions such as Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, as well cultures around the world that practice animism. Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 These special mental states are described in the sacred texts of an ancient school of Buddhism. Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2024 Challenging yourself to new skillsets is critical to constant evolution, which Buddhism is based upon. Billee Howard, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Through the imposition of Sinhalese as the official language and Buddhism as the official religion, a deep division was created, provoking protests by the Tamils, peaceful at first but increasingly violent when crushed by the state. Ramachandra Guha, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 The holiday is largely secular and includes traditions deriving from Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, in addition to other traditions from myths and folk religions across Asia. Ty Roush, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024 The pieces, which all pertain to the evolution and practice of Buddhism across Asia, are often unfamiliar. Punch Shaw, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024 Moss enrolled at the Meadville Lombard Theological School in 2019, taking classes on ethics, Buddhism and creating inclusive communities. Emma Goldberg Desiree Rios, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2024 Religious history Fascinating finds related to religious history tell a story of diverse, competing yet sometimes complementary worldviews, from the polytheism of the ancient Greeks and Romans to Buddhism to Christianity. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Buddhism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Buddhism was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near Buddhism

Cite this Entry

“Buddhism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Buddhism. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Buddhism

noun
: a religion of eastern and central Asia growing out of the teaching of Gautama Buddha
Buddhist
ˈbüd-əst How to pronounce Buddhism (audio)
ˈbu̇d-
noun or adjective
Buddhistic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Buddhism

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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