Buddhism

American  

[boo-diz-uhm, bood-iz-] / ˈbu dɪz əm, ˈbʊd ɪz- /

noun

• Buddhisms
  plural

1. a religion, originated in India by Buddha (Gautama) and later spreading to China, Myanmar (Burma), Japan, Tibet, and parts of Southeast Asia, holding that life is full of suffering caused by desire and that the way to end this suffering is through enlightenment that enables one to halt the endless sequence of births and deaths to which one is otherwise subject.

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Buddhism British  

/ ˈbʊdɪzəm /

noun

1. a religious teaching propagated by the Buddha and his followers, which declares that by destroying greed, hatred, and delusion, which are the causes of all suffering, man can attain perfect enlightenment See nirvana

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Buddhism Cultural  

1. A religion, founded by the Buddha, that emphasizes physical and spiritual discipline as a means of liberation from the physical world. The goal for the Buddhist is to attain nirvana, a state of complete peace in which one is free from the distractions of desire and self-consciousness. Buddhists are found in the greatest numbers in eastern Asia.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Buddhist
  noun
• Buddhist
  adjective
• Buddhistic
  adjective
• Buddhistical
  adjective
• anti-Buddhist
  adjective
• non-Buddhist
  adjective
• non-Buddhistic
  adjective
• pre-Buddhist
  adjective
• pro-Buddhist
  adjective
• pseudo-Buddhist
  adjective
• Buddhistically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Buddhisms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Buddhism

Buddh(a) + -ism

Compare meaning

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

• Zen Buddhism vs. Buddhism

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Buddhism Buddhisms

During an interview with a Wall Street Journal reporter in 1980, he quoted from a book on Zen Buddhism and paced around his office, squeezing a wrist exerciser.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

In Buddhism, bodhicitta is, essentially, a desire to attain enlightenment in order to free all beings from suffering.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism all attach moral significance to voluntary self-denial.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

"Hip Buddhism is Buddhism in an adapted form, as long as the teachings are maintained," he said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026

A koan is like a riddle that’s supposed to help you toward enlightenment in Zen Buddhism.

From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

Many students have asked what is the peculiar, the characteristic difference between the Buddhism of Japan and the other Buddhisms of the Asian continent.

From The Religions of Japan From the Dawn of History to the Era of Méiji by William Elliot Griffis

We shall in this lecture attempt but two things: I. A summary of the process of thought by which the chief features of the Northern Buddhisms came into view.

From The Religions of Japan From the Dawn of History to the Era of Méiji by William Elliot Griffis

Possibly, also, besides the Southern and Northern Buddhisms, the Buddhism of Japan may be treated by itself and named Eastern Buddhism.

From The Religions of Japan From the Dawn of History to the Era of Méiji by William Elliot Griffis

Astonishingly different has been the case with the Northern Buddhisms which are those of Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia, Manchuria, China, Korea and Japan.

From The Religions of Japan From the Dawn of History to the Era of Méiji by William Elliot Griffis

The separatists began what may be called the Northern Buddhisms of Nepal, Tibet, China, Korea and Japan.

From The Religions of Japan From the Dawn of History to the Era of Méiji by William Elliot Griffis