Buddhism

noun

Bud·​dhism ˈbü-ˌdi-zəm  ˈbu̇- 

: 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 

ˈbu̇-

noun or adjective

Buddhistic

bü-ˈdi-stik 

bu̇-

adjective

Examples of Buddhism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In one of the many anecdotes, Acharya tells us how Wu – who reigned between A.D. 690 and 705 – took imagery from Indian Buddhism to legitimize her claim to the Tang dynasty throne. —Abhijnan Rej, Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2025

The 1,500-year-old monastery, nestled deep in the forested mountains of central China’s Henan province, is known for Zen Buddhism and the Chinese martial art of kung fu. —Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 10 June 2025

That’s fitting, since this is where Buddhism was introduced to China. —Pat Tompkins, AFAR Media, 9 June 2025

And Buddhism teaches that everyone has enlightened nature inside them and that’s really their true nature – an unadulterated, unaffected mind, devoid of thought and habitual patterns. —Anna Tingley, Variety, 6 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Buddhism

• Tibetan Buddhism

Kids Definition

Buddhism

noun

Bud·​dhism ˈbü-ˌdiz-əm  ˈbu̇d-ˌiz- 

: a religion of eastern and central Asia growing out of the teaching of Gautama Buddha

Buddhist

ˈbüd-əst 

ˈbu̇d-

noun or adjective

Buddhistic

bü-ˈdis-tik 

bu̇-

adjective