pagoda

American  

[puh-goh-duh] / pəˈgoʊ də /

noun

1. in India, Myanmar (Burma), China, etc., a temple or sacred building, usually a pyramidlike tower and typically having upward-curving roofs over the individual stories.

2. any of several former gold or silver coins of southern India, usually bearing a figure of such a temple, first issued in the late 16th century and later also by British, French, and Dutch traders.

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pagoda British  

/ pəˈɡəʊdə /

noun

1. an Indian or Far Eastern temple, esp a tower, usually pyramidal and having many storeys

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pagoda Cultural  

1. A tower with several different stories, each of which has its own roof. Pagodas are common in eastern Asia and originally served religious purposes as memorials or shrines.

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Other Word Forms

• pagodalike
  adjective
• subpagoda
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pagoda

First recorded in 1625–35; from Portuguese pagode “temple,” ultimately from Persian butkada ( but “idol” + kada “temple, dwelling”)

Explanation

A pagoda is a tiered building that rises to a point. Most pagodas have some religious significance and are found in Asia. One particular type of Buddhist or Taoist temple rises in the shape of a pyramid or a rounded pyramid — this is called a pagoda. The word may make you think of China or Japan, and in fact most pagodas are found in those two countries, as well as other parts of Asia, including Cambodia, Nepal, and India. Pagoda comes from the Portuguese pagode, although its origin is uncertain. One possible root is the Tamil word pagavadi, "house belonging to a deity."

Example Sentences

At Amarapura's Nagayon Pagoda, a Buddha statue reduced to just two legs and hands on a pedestal has been fully restored, looking out with a serene gaze.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Liang said his parents are staying at the Best Western and will be moved to the Royal Pagoda Motel at the end of the month.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 28, 2024

For a fun time, hop on the back of a motorbike taxi and let the driver take you to West Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda.

From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2023

In the video he took that day, seen now for the first time, Nagai records the moment trucks full of soldiers appear at Sule Pagoda.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2023

This was also the first summer I convinced Dad to let me volunteer at the adoption center inside Zimmerman’s Pet Store at the Pagoda Mall.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King

Related Words

• gazebo
• memorial
• shrine
• temple