Dalai Lama

noun

Da·​lai La·​ma ˌdä-lī-ˈlä-mə How to pronounce Dalai Lama (audio)
ˌdä-lā-
ˌda-
: the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism

Examples of Dalai Lama in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pelosi’s support for Tibet Pelosi represents San Francisco, home to a major Tibetan population and she's long been outspoken about Tibet and her support for the Dalai Lama. Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025 The Dalai Lama is also nominated in the category for Meditations: The Reflections Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, as well as Supreme Court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson for Lovely One: A Memoir. Katherine Schaffstall, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025 With this year’s Grammy nominations, a new feud has emerged to top them all: Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvan versus the Dalai Lama and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025 The Dalai Lama turned 90 in July. Diaa Hadid, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Dalai Lama

Word History

Etymology

Mongolian dalai ocean

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Dalai Lama was in 1698

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Cite this Entry

“Dalai Lama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Dalai%20Lama. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Biographical Definition

Dalai Lama

biographical name

Da·​lai La·​ma ˈdä-ˌlī-ˈlä-mə How to pronounce Dalai Lama (audio)
1935–     Tenzin Gyatso Tibetan religious and political leader

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