Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

kaivalya

noun
kai·​val·​ya | \ kīˈvəlyə\
plural -s

Definition of kaivalya

: the final state of Jain and Vedantic salvation characterized as absolute release of one's jiva from all entanglements with ajiva : self-directed liberation

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for kaivalya

Sanskrit, from kevala exclusively one's own, alone, whole

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about kaivalya

Dictionary Entries near kaivalya

Kaiserslautern

kaitaka

Kaithi

kaivalya

kajak

Kajar

kajawah

Statistics for kaivalya

Look-up Popularity

Comments on kaivalya

What made you want to look up kaivalya? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

purview

Listen to the pronounciation of purview

the range of authority or knowledge

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Original Meanings Quiz

  • rembrandt-painting-a-young-scholar-and-his-tutor
  • Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games