mantra

noun man·tra \ ˈmän-trə also ˈman- or ˈmən- \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Examples: mantra in a Sentence

Definition of mantra

: a mystical formula of invocation (see invocation 2) or incantation (as in Hinduism); also : watchword 2

"diversity" has become our multicultural mantra
—Manning Marable

—

mantric

play \-trik\ adjective

See mantra defined for English-language learners

Examples of mantra in a Sentence

a businessman whose mantra is “bigger is better”

Recent Examples of mantra from the Web

This is the mantra Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn has preached this offseason for his players, and specifically for players in the trenches.

— carlos monarrez, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Lions have a type for offensive linemen: Smart and tough," 30 May 2018
Jodie Foster plays the no-nonsense nurse at the helm of the dystopian villain hospital who enforces the no guns, no cops, and no killing mantra on the other patients, played by Dave Bautista, Jeff Goldblum, and Sterling K. Brown, just to name a few.

— lauren sanchez, Vogue, "Hotel Artemis’s New York Premiere Party Served As a Hideout for Sterling K. Brown, Jim Carrey, and More," 30 May 2018
The National Weather Service forecast through Thursday for western North Carolina carries almost a mantra-like quality: heavy rain with possible flooding each day.

— michael gordon, charlotteobserver, "Here's what Charlotte can expect from Alberto," 28 May 2018
Short hair, don’t care — that’s the mantra that’s become increasingly embraced as of late.

— rebecca norris, Allure, "Watch 100 Years of Iconic Short-Hair Trends in Under Four Minutes," 22 May 2018
Naperville North’s Annie Brandt, a relay alternate, was familiar with that mantra, often expressed this season by Huskies coach Dan Iverson during his team’s run to the Class 3A state championship.

— rick armstrong, Naperville Sun, "Annie Brandt, Halle Bieber and the best: Naperville North takes 'team-centered' approach to win Class 3A track state title," 21 May 2018
The Revenge Body star just posted a positive (albeit vague) mantra about kindness to Twitter, which seems to apply to her controversial decision to keep Thompson in her life—despite the outpour of cheating allegations against him.

— megan decker, Harper's BAZAAR, "Khloé Kardashian Just Tweeted About Kindness Following Tristan Thompson's Cheating Scandal," 16 May 2018
While de-risking has been the government’s mantra since 2015, the country’s most powerful politicians have been ramping up directives on everything from excessive borrowing to stock-market speculation.

— Bloomberg.com, "How China Is Getting Serious About Financial Risk," 23 Feb. 2018
Thus, again and again, a mantra was repeated during the preview event: by leaving any gamers in the cold, the standard controller just wasn't good enough.

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "In the lab with Xbox’s new Adaptive Controller, which may change gaming forever," 17 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of mantra

Sanskrit, sacred counsel, formula, from manyate he thinks; akin to Latin mens mind — more at mind

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1795

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms

Zen, antinomian, avatar, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan

MANTRA Defined for English Language Learners

mantra

noun

Definition of mantra for English Language Learners

: a sound, word, or phrase that is repeated by someone who is praying or meditating
: a word or phrase that is repeated often or that expresses someone's basic beliefs

Learn More about mantra

See words that rhyme with mantra Nglish: Translation of mantra for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mantra for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mantra

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mantra

Definition of mantra

mantric

Examples of mantra in a Sentence

Recent Examples of mantra from the Web

Origin and Etymology of mantra

Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms

MANTRA Defined for English Language Learners

mantra

Definition of mantra for English Language Learners

Learn More about mantra

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mantra

Definition of mantra

mantric

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MANTRA Defined for English Language Learners

mantra

Definition of mantra for English Language Learners

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