mindfulness

American  

[mahynd-fuhl-nis] / ˈmaɪnd fəl nɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being mindful or aware of something.

2. Psychology.

   1. a technique in which one focuses one's full attention only on the present, experiencing thoughts, feelings, and sensations but not judging them.

      The practice of mindfulness can reduce stress and physical pain.

   2. the mental state maintained by the use of this technique.

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mindfulness British  

/ ˈmaɪndfʊlnɪs /

noun

1. the the state or quality of being mindful

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Etymology

Origin of mindfulness

First recorded in 1520–30; mindful ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Mindfulness is a state of focusing on what you're doing right now. Practicing mindfulness often leaves people feeling more relaxed and calm. Since the 16th century, mindfulness has been used to mean "attention." Around 1995, it became popular to describe certain meditative practices using the Sanskrit sati, which translates to mindfulness. Beyond simply paying attention, this kind of awareness is focused on being fully present in the moment. If you've been feeling distracted and stressed out, you should try a mindfulness exercise!

Example Sentences

Popular Headspace mindfulness app posted a YouTube video this week titled: "When your pets miss you, play this: 6 hour calming music for dogs and cats".

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The musician and author started learning about mindfulness and meditation.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

Others, like Alexander, argue that the feelings can be so intensely unpleasant that mindfulness or distraction alone won’t address the root cause.

From Slate • Mar. 15, 2026

One nearby farm camp promised to teach children skills like foraging, composting and mindfulness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

“When I work with clients, I like to teach them about mindfulness and emotion regulation.”

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh