noun
Common
karma
KAH-muh
Karma (noun) means In Hindu and Buddhist thought, the total effect of a person's actions, believed to shape their fate in this life or the next. Example: “According to the idea of karma, kind deeds in this life shape the next.”
noun
1
In Hindu and Buddhist thought, the total effect of a person's actions, believed to shape their fate in this life or the next.
"According to the idea of karma, kind deeds in this life shape the next."
"She believes in karma, so she's always careful about how she treats people."
"Monks teach that good karma comes from acting with kindness and honesty."
2
Loosely, the everyday idea that good or bad actions eventually come back around to you.
"She lied to get the job, then lost it a week later. That's karma."
"Don't gloat when a rival fails, because karma has a way of balancing things."
"He cut in line and got a flat tyre an hour later — instant karma, his friends said."
3
A general feeling, mood, or energy given off by a person or place.
"The little cafe has great karma, and everyone who walks in relaxes at once."
"I didn't like the karma of that old house, so we kept looking."
"There was bad karma in the office after the layoffs were announced."
How to use karma
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe idea that what you do — good or bad — eventually comes back to affect you.
Common mistake
In everyday English "karma" is usually used loosely as instant moral payback, which is a simplification of the original religious concept about actions shaping future rebirths.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
good karma
bad karma
instant karma
karma will catch up
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Word forms
- Plural
- karmas
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According to the idea of _____, kind deeds in this life shape the next.
Etymology
Borrowed from Sanskrit karma ("action, deed"), first used in English in 1785 in an early translation of the Bhagavad Gita.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for karma
See all rhymes for karma →Frequently asked questions
What does “karma” mean?
The word “karma” means in Hindu and Buddhist thought, the total effect of a person's actions, believed to shape their fate in this life or the next. In plain terms, the idea that what you do — good or bad — eventually comes back to affect you.
How do you pronounce “karma”?
“Karma” is pronounced KAH-muh (/ˈkɑː(ɹ).mə/ in IPA).
How do you use “karma” in a sentence?
Here is “karma” used in a sentence: “She believes in karma, so she's always careful about how she treats people.”
What part of speech is “karma”?
“Karma” is a noun.
Where does the word “karma” come from?
The word “karma” dates back to around 1785 and comes from Sanskrit. Borrowed from Sanskrit karma ("action, deed"), first used in English in 1785 in an early translation of the Bhagavad Gita.
Is “karma” a common word?
“Karma” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “karma” have?
“Karma” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in Hindu and Buddhist thought, the total effect of a person's actions, believed to shape their fate in this life or the next.
What is the difference between karma and fate?
In Hindu and Buddhist thought, karma is the total effect of a person's actions, believed to shape their future, so outcomes are earned through one's own deeds. Fate suggests a predetermined course of events set by an outside force regardless of what a person does. Karma ties results to actions, while fate implies they are fixed in advance.
What is the difference between karma and luck?
Luck is good or bad fortune that happens by chance, with no cause in a person's conduct. Karma, in its everyday sense, is the idea that good or bad actions eventually come back around to you, so outcomes are linked to how you have behaved rather than to random chance.
Can "karma" describe the feel of a person or place?
Yes. Beyond its religious and everyday meanings, karma is used loosely for the general feeling, mood, or energy given off by a person or place, as in "this house has good karma." Here it is close in meaning to "vibe" or "atmosphere."
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