Bon

¹ American  

[bon, bawn] / bɒn, bɔ̃ /

noun

1. Cape, a cape on the NE coast of Tunisia: surrender of the German African forces, May 12, 1943.

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Bon ² American  

[bawn] / bɔn /

noun

1. an annual festival of the Japanese Buddhists, welcoming ancestral spirits to household altars.

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Bön ³ American  

[bohn] / boʊn /

noun

1. a shamanistic Tibetan sect, absorbed by the first Buddhist sects of the 7th century and later.

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Bon ¹ British  

/ bɔːn /

noun

1. Also called: Feast of Lanterns.   Festival of Lanterns.  an annual festival celebrated by Japanese Buddhists

2. 1. the pre-Buddhist priests of Tibet or one such priest

   2. their religion

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Bon ² British  

/ bɒn /

noun

1. a peninsula of NE Tunisia

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Etymology

Origin of Bon

< Japanese, originally Urabon < Chinese version of Sanskrit ullambana literally, hanging upside down (a metaphor for the suffering brought on by physical desires)

Example Sentences

I fell for it outside of hummus in a tahini-miso ranch from Bon Appétit that I now make on instinct, and since then, it’s found its way into everything.

From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026

For several seasons now, "it has been less about creativity and more about predictability", agreed Franck Nauerz, head of menswear at Paris fashion stores Le Bon Marche and La Samaritaine.

From Barron's • Jan. 18, 2026

After contributing to Bon Iver's Sable, Fable and Justin Bieber's acclaimed comeback, Swag, he scored two Grammy nominations for his second album, Baby.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

Bon Iver, “Sable, Fable” “I could leave behind the snow / For a land of palm and gold.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

It was the probation, the durance; they all three accepted it; I dont believe there was ever any promise between Henry and Bon demanded or offered.

From "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner