enlightenment
noun
en·light·en·ment
in-ˈlī-tᵊn-mənt 
en-
1
: the act or means of enlightening : the state of being enlightened
2
capitalized
: a philosophical movement of the 18th century marked by a rejection of traditional social, religious, and political ideas and an emphasis on rationalism
—used with the
3
Buddhism
: a final blessed state marked by the absence of desire or suffering
Examples of enlightenment in a Sentence
the search for spiritual enlightenment
His comments failed to provide enlightenment.
the enlightenment of the public through education
Recent Examples on the Web
The jury is still out on whether pork ribs lacquered in lemongrass barbecue sauce provide spiritual enlightenment, but the tender meat is a master class in balancing sweet and savory.
—
Joseph Hernandez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 May 2025
Yet, later on, these clueless men find enlightenment at the expense of a young Indian boy’s life.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 30 May 2025
Some find enlightenment in meditation halls; others, in the dizzying haze of a Khao San Road bender.
—Christina Fang, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025
The school is named after Naropa, an 11th-century Indian Buddhist sage believed to have attained enlightenment in one lifetime.
—Benjamin Adams, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enlightenment
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Joseph Hernandez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 May 2025
Yet, later on, these clueless men find enlightenment at the expense of a young Indian boy’s life.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 30 May 2025
Some find enlightenment in meditation halls; others, in the dizzying haze of a Khao San Road bender.
—Christina Fang, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025
The school is named after Naropa, an 11th-century Indian Buddhist sage believed to have attained enlightenment in one lifetime.
—Benjamin Adams, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enlightenment
Cite this Entry
“Enlightenment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlightenment. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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