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

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

“The Westside people aren’t even going to see any of that, right? So it’s bringing that kind of mindfulness to that space.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

Fortunately this mindfulness accorded with her nature: it brought her the same depth of pleasure Carl had derived from nurturing his strawberries.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson