mantra
Americannoun
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Hinduism. a word or formula, as from the Veda, chanted or sung as an incantation or prayer.
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an often repeated word, formula, or phrase, often a truism.
If I hear the “less is more” mantra one more time, I'll scream.
noun
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Hinduism any of those parts of the Vedic literature which consist of the metrical psalms of praise
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Hinduism Buddhism any sacred word or syllable used as an object of concentration and embodying some aspect of spiritual power
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of mantra
Borrowed into English from Sanskrit around 1800–10
Explanation
A mantra is a motivating chant, like the “I think I can, I think I can” you repeat over and over to yourself on the last stretch of every marathon you run. A mantra is usually any repeated word or phrase, but it can also refer more specifically to a word repeated in meditation. Mantra comes from a Sanskrit word meaning a “sacred message or text, charm, spell, counsel.” The Indian spiritual leader Sri Sathya Baba said, “A pure thought from a pure heart is better than a mantra.” Meaning, a mantra is great and all, but really, pure intentions and genuine kindness mean more.
Vocabulary lists containing mantra
100 Words to Make You Sound Smart
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"Rogue Wave," Vocabulary from the short story
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On Your Mark, Get Set, Commence Your Life!
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Strategy shares fell 6.2%, giving back some of Monday’s surge after the bitcoin-hoarding company abandoned its longstanding never sell bitcoin mantra in a bid to shore up investor confidence.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
A mantra took hold — “ She had nowhere to go, so she went deeper inside herself” — and, for the first time, she began writing within a defined emotional framework.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026
It didn't take long for Semenyo's confidence to grow, with Hockaday's two key words - hunger and belief - quickly becoming a mantra.
From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026
Its first tactical sale came at the end of May, breaking from Chairman Michael Saylor’s “never sell” mantra.
From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026
Under my breath, I whisper, “Querer es poder” Over and over, I whisper my mantra.
From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
