karma

noun

kar·ma | \ ˈkär-mə

also ˈkər- \

Essential Meaning of karma

1 : the force created by a person's actions that is believed in Hinduism and Buddhism to determine what that person's next life will be like

2 informal : the force created by a person's actions that some people believe causes good or bad things to happen to that person She believes that helping people produces good karma.

Full Definition of karma

1 often capitalized : 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

Other Words from karma Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About karma

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 Rappers on The Masked Singer seem to have bad karma, as Chameleon learned by being the first out on the season 5 finale, just as Bow Wow was last season. — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2021 Rappers on The Masked Singer seem to have bad karma, as Chameleon learned by being the first out on the season 5 finale, just as Bow Wow was last season. — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2021 Other Asian Americans have been told their disability is the result of bad karma or moral wrongs. — NBC News, 1 Oct. 2021 Rappers on The Masked Singer seem to have bad karma, as Chameleon learned by being the first out on the season 5 finale, just as Bow Wow was last season. — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2021 Rappers on The Masked Singer seem to have bad karma, as Chameleon learned by being the first out on the season 5 finale, just as Bow Wow was last season. — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2021 Rappers on The Masked Singer seem to have bad karma, as Chameleon learned by being the first out on the season 5 finale, just as Bow Wow was last season. — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2021 Rappers on The Masked Singer seem to have bad karma, as Chameleon learned by being the first out on the season 5 finale, just as Bow Wow was last season. — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2021 Rappers on The Masked Singer seem to have bad karma, as Chameleon learned by being the first out on the season 5 finale, just as Bow Wow was last season. — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'karma.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.