koan

noun

ko·​an ˈkō-ˌän 

: a paradox to be meditated upon that is used to train Zen Buddhist monks to abandon ultimate dependence on reason and to force them into gaining sudden intuitive enlightenment

Examples of koan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Based on the children’s book Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth and inspired heavily by Zen koans (short Zen Buddhist parables) the show takes a mindful approach to storytelling that’s quiet and engaging for kids and adults alike. —Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 31 July 2025

Lucas was asked about Yoda’s particular patter, which often found the character doing away with typical sentence structure and essentially delivering his heady insights and mighty koans backwards. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2025

Sensei presents an introduction on how to work with koans in meditation, turning life’s challenges into tools for deeper insight. —Jake Richardson, Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025

The gags here are perhaps best appreciated as Zen koans, jokes that hit you sideways rather than head on. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Japanese kōan, from kō public + an proposition

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above