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• Buddha
  Buddha

  noun

  Prince Siddhāttha or Siddhartha, 566?–c480 b.c., Indian religious leader: founder of Buddhism.
• buddha
  buddha

  noun

  Buddhism (often capital) a person who has achieved a state of perfect enlightenment

Buddha

American  

[boo-duh, bood-uh] / ˈbu də, ˈbʊd ə /

noun

1. Also called Gautama.  Also called Butsu.  Also called Goutama Buddha.  Also called Goutama.  Also called Gautama Buddha,.  Prince Siddhāttha or Siddhartha, 566?–c480 b.c., Indian religious leader: founder of Buddhism.

2. any of a series of teachers in Buddhism, of whom Gautama was the last, who bring enlightenment and wisdom.

3. (sometimes lowercase) a person who has attained full prajna, or enlightenment; Arhat.

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buddha ¹ British  

/ ˈbʊdə /

noun

1. Buddhism (often capital) a person who has achieved a state of perfect enlightenment

2. an image or picture of the Buddha

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Buddha ² British  

/ ˈbʊdə /

noun

1. ?563–483 _bc , a title applied to Gautama Siddhartha, a nobleman and religious teacher of N India, regarded by his followers as the most recent rediscoverer of the path to enlightenment: the founder of Buddhism

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Etymology

Origin of Buddha

First recorded in 1675–85; from Sanskrit: “awakened” ( budh- “awaken, notice, understand” + -ta past participle suffix)

Compare meaning

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

• Bodhisattva vs. Buddha

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Buddha buddha

Worker Buddha Tamang said he survived only because he was inside a tunnel at the dam where he worked when the flood struck -- but he had managed to get out and reach help.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

Then, he was a military commander in Bamiyan, where the Taliban blew up ancient giant Buddha statues, triggering international shock and condemnation.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Higdon keeps an eye on the herd at Smiling Buddha Yaks in western Colorado’s San Juan Mountains.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026

The central and most prominent cave houses a Buddha sculpture from A.D.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

The Buddha walked away and his look and half-smile remained imprinted on Siddhartha’s memory forever.

From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse

His wife, Diane, added a buddha after Game 1 which seems to have worked.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2025

They also took screenshots of products offered for sale on Facebook, from elephant ivory bracelets and rings trimmed in 14-karat gold to intricate happy buddha ivory carvings, whole rhino horns, and tiger fang pendants.

From National Geographic ● Dec. 18, 2020

Her buddha bowls celebrate the versatility and simplicity of this modern instagram food trend, champion seasonal veg and the power of a good dressing!

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2019

Or at least a buddha with dreadlocks and diamanté-rimmed sunglasses.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 13, 2017

Sitting like a starved and threadbare buddha, staring into the coals.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy