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

I could have listened for hours and may do so in future on the Dharma Seed website, which offers many of these recorded talks free.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 23, 2026

Lee Sang-ho, who won South Korea's first Olympic snowboarding medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, also competed in the monk's event -- adding to a line of "Dharma Kids" along with this year's medallists.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

The 400-pound Buddha hanging askew on the wall was the only sign Dharma & Dog, a purveyor of raw pet foods and metaphysical gifts, had gone through two natural disasters in one afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2023

Dharma: Brazil looks like the team to beat.

From BBC • Dec. 5, 2022

“We’re the daughters of the Dharma Raja and Lord Indra!”

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi