Jainism

American  

[jahy-niz-uhm] / ˈdʒaɪ nɪz əm /

noun

1. a dualistic religion founded in the 6th century b.c. as a revolt against current Hinduism and emphasizing the perfectibility of human nature and liberation of the soul, especially through asceticism and nonviolence toward all living creatures.

---

Jainism British  

/ ˈdʒaɪˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. an ancient Hindu religion, which has its own scriptures and believes that the material world is eternal, progressing endlessly in a series of vast cycles

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Jainist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Jainism

First recorded in 1855–60; Jain + -ism

Compare meaning

How does jainism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Jainism vs. Hinduism

Example Sentences

As these forms of faith came down to the present day, they tended to ignore the strain of religions that are mostly nonproselytizing—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto and tribal indigenous traditions.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

The imagery which depicted gods, goddesses, supreme preachers and enlightened souls of three ancient religions - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism - was reimagined from symbolic to more recognisably deriving from human form.

From BBC • Jun. 20, 2025

There will be exemptions for artistic, academic or religious use of swastikas, which has a spiritual significance in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.

From Reuters • Jun. 8, 2023

Citizens are only allowed to align themselves with one of the six officially recognized religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism and Sikhism.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 22, 2022

Jainism is an Indian religion so like Buddhism as to have been considered by many to be a sect of the latter.

From History of Religion A Sketch of Primitive Religious Beliefs and Practices, and of the Origin and Character of the Great Systems by Menzies, Allan