yoga
Americannoun
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a school of Hindu philosophy advocating and prescribing a course of physical and mental disciplines for attaining liberation from the material world and union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle.
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any or all of the methods or disciplines prescribed in the Hindu philosophical school of yoga, especially a series of postures and breathing exercises practiced to achieve tranquility, control of the body and mind, etc.
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union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle.
noun
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a Hindu system of philosophy aiming at the mystical union of the self with the Supreme Being in a state of complete awareness and tranquillity through certain physical and mental exercises
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any method by which such awareness and tranquillity are attained, esp a course of related exercises and postures designed to promote physical and spiritual wellbeing See Astanga yoga Bikram yoga hatha yoga power yoga raja yoga Sivananda yoga
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of yoga
First recorded in 1780–90 from Sanskrit: literally, “act of yoking or joining; yoked team; employment”; see origin at yoke 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Yoga is an ancient form of physical and mental exercise that is still popular today. It involves lots of stretching and holding poses with funny names, like "downward dog." The kind of yoga that most westerners practice is based on "hatha yoga," the most familiar part of a complex Hindu system of meditation and spiritual practice. Yoga is an extremely popular form of exercise today, but it's been around for centuries. The word yoga was first used in English around 1820, when western intellectuals were first becoming interested in Hindu philosophy — it's a Sanskrit word that means "union."
Vocabulary lists containing yoga
South Asia - Introductory
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South Asia - Middle School and High School
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Sports and Hobbies
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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.
Shradha Singh, a 23-year-old social-media influencer and yoga instructor, posted a number of videos from the protests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
Breathwork originated from traditional practices like yoga and has been used in other fields like martial arts for centuries, says Stuart.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
Like yoga or dance, the experience is a workout that feels in alignment with the body’s natural movements, at an intensity appropriate to wielding an ancient weapon.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
Some tricks to relieve stress: From the archives, yoga teacher Sara Pam Neufeld shares a workout that takes seconds—and could actually improve your quality of life.
From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026
Her mother took a great lungful of air, let it out, as if she were settling into a particularly challenging yoga pose.
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
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.
