Jump To:

• 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.

---

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

---

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

---

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

Upon arriving in India on 30 May, Min Aung Hlaing visited Bodh Gaya and offered prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple, built at the site where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

The main space is filled with musical instruments, a Buddha statue, a Yoda doll, a skull, and glam platform boots perched atop a piano.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

With six Michelin-starred chefs and 14 James Beard Award nominees, including two-time “Top Chef” winner Buddha Lo, this could put some heat on “Top Chef,” which also returns this month on Peacock.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026

Following the incident, Bristol City Council released images of an elephant carved in ivory, an ivory statue of the Buddha, a ship lantern and an Emancipation token.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

Soft begging words to Ganesha and the Buddha, to Kali-Mary Mercy and the Christian God... she was praying to anything at all, begging the Fates to let her walk from the shadow of death.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi