karma

noun

kar·​ma ˈkär-mə 

also ˈkər-

1

often Karma : the force generated by a person's actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence

Each individual is born with karma, the residual from past lives that must be resolved …

—Diane Goldner

broadly : such a force considered as affecting the events of one's life

Claude says, "You reap what you sow." I call this idea karma, that what goes around comes around.

—Anthony Walton

I figured I needed all the good karma I could get if I was serious about winning Noah's heart.

—Robin Palmer

2

: a characteristic emanation, aura, or spirit that infuses or vitalizes someone or something

… he wrote a book entitled Maverick in which he talked about his drug use and his teammates' karma …

—Sam Smith

Graffiti on the walls of trains or subway stations create bad karma.

—Ed Koch

karmic

ˈkär-mik 

also ˈkər-

adjective

Synonyms of karma

• aura
• atmosphere
• smell

Examples of karma in a Sentence

She believes that helping people produces good karma.

as the site of a string of failed businesses, the building definitely had bad karma

Recent Examples on the Web

Over 10 years, he’s been taught to be skeptical that consequences or karma still exist for some. — David MacK, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Harming any of these beings results in negative karma, which further traps souls in samsara. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026

Elsewhere, the usual suspects framed Dart's injury as political karma. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Coltrane is also deeply interested in the Buddhist principles of karma and dharma, or the moral duties and obligations to a right way of life, which are sprinkled throughout the novel. — Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit karma fate, work

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for karma

• dharma
• pharma