bhik·shuni
| \ ˈbik-ˌshə-nē
\
\
plural bhikshunis
Definition of bhikshuni
: a woman belonging to a Hindu or Buddhist monastic order : a Hindu or Buddhist nun
Other precepts, such as the one requiring bhikshunis to receive instructions from a bhikshu twice a month (but not vice versa), clearly reflect gender inequalities in Indian society at that time.— Bhikshuni Karma Lekshe Tsomo, Blossoms of the Dharma: Living as a Buddhist Nun, 1999 The number of vows varies among different Buddhist lineages, and within each lineage, the bhikshus and bhikshunis have different numbers of vows.— Thubten Chodron, Taming The Mind, 2004
Learn More About bhikshuni
Statistics for bhikshuni
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Bhikshuni.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bhikshuni. Accessed 10 Aug. 2022.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
Words Named After People
-
- Namesake of the leotard, Jules Léotard had what profession?
Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Name That Animal: Volume 2
Can you tell a meerkat from a wombat?
Take the quiz
-
Fashionable Words
A vocab quiz with panache
Take the quiz
-
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
Take the quiz
-
Spelling Bee Quiz
Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...
Take the quiz
Share bhikshuni
Time Traveler for bhikshuni
The first known use of bhikshuni was in 1831
See more words from the same year