dharma

American  

[dahr-muh, duhr-] / ˈdɑr mə, ˈdʌr- /

noun

Hinduism, Buddhism.

1. essential quality or character, as of the cosmos or one's own nature.

2. conformity to religious law, custom, duty, or one's own quality or character.

3. virtue.

4. religion.

5. law, especially religious law.

6. the doctrine or teaching of the Buddha.

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dharma British  

/ ˈdɑːmə /

noun

1. Hinduism social custom regarded as a religious and moral duty

2. Hinduism

   1. the essential principle of the cosmos; natural law

   2. conduct that conforms with this

3. Buddhism ideal truth as set forth in the teaching of Buddha

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Other Word Forms

• dharmic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of dharma

1790–1800; < Sanskrit: custom, duty, akin to dhārayati holds, maintains

Example Sentences

He says he "had very mixed feelings…given what had happened" but was driven by Hindu belief in dharma which he says involves "doing your duty".

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2025

It affects the text’s treatment of dharma, or the right way to act.

From Salon • Nov. 11, 2023

It is the dharma of fire to be hot, and of water to cool.

From New York Times • Feb. 16, 2023

They’ve offered a dharma school for children and do community outreach cleaning creeks, organizing community potlucks and visiting prisoners to share the teachings of the Buddha.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 7, 2022

This drying bairagya is not a sannyasi's dharma.

From Chaitanya's Life And Teachings From his contemporary Begali biography the Chaitanya-charit-amrita by K???ad?sa Kavir?ja Gosv?mi