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”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Dalai Lama

One of my most memorable interviews at The Times was with the Dalai Lama in 1999.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

Beata Tikos, of Tibet House in New York, a cultural centre founded by Dalai Lama, said it was not surprising that there "may be confusion" around Beijing's messaging.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

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

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

The 90-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has been based in India since fleeing the Tibetan capital Lhasa after Chinese troops crushed an uprising in 1959.

From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026

If you don’t believe me, try making sense out of this pile of words: Who do you think I saw the other day the Dalai Lama said my aunt Minnie.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

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