Dalai Lama

American  

[dah-lahy lah-muh] / ˈdɑ laɪ ˈlɑ mə /

noun

1. (formerly) the ruler and chief monk of Tibet, believed to be a reincarnation of Avalokitesvara and sought for among newborn children after the death of the preceding Dalai Lama.

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Dalai Lama British  

/ ˈdælaɪ ˈlɑːmə /

noun

1. (until 1959) the chief lama and ruler of Tibet

2. born 1935, the 14th holder of this office (1940), who fled to India (1959): Nobel peace prize 1989

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Etymology

Origin of Dalai Lama

From Mongolian, equivalent to dalai “ocean” + lama “a celibate priest”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Dalai Lama

Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, in India, has said he is praying for all those killed -- but also warned of wider issues.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

It has labelled the exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, a separatist.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Writers face imprisonment, including Tibetan author Gangkye Drubpa Kyab, who is serving a 14-year sentence for “inciting separatism” and was previously imprisoned for displaying a photograph of the Dalai Lama.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

The 90-year-old Dalai Lama, based in India since fleeing the Tibetan capital Lhasa after Chinese troops crushed an uprising in 1959, insists he has many more years to live.

From Barron's ● May 27, 2026

Phil already gave me his Dalai Lama lecture.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter