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

“Frampton Comes Alive!” inspired a generation of arena-rock artists, including Bon Jovi, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Alice in Chains.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

But his magpie tendencies go even further, cherry-picking from artists ranging from Paramore and Miley Cyrus to Daniel Bedingfield and Bon Iver.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026

In the culinary world, this is often called “rent week” cooking—a term popularized by Alex Delaney in his Bon Appétit column from 2016 to 2019.

From Salon • Dec. 28, 2025

Smith showed early intent by slog-sweeping Lyon over deep midwicket for six then banged another off Cameron Green as the Barmy Army fans broke into Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer".

From Barron's • Dec. 21, 2025

I would not be your equal with pistols’ and Bon: ‘Nor with knives or rapiers too?’ and the lawyer, smooth and easy: ‘Nor knives or rapiers too.’

From "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner