noun
Maya
MEYE-uh
noun
1
A member of the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica whose civilisation flourished in what is now Mexico and Central America, known for its cities, writing system, and calendar.
"Archaeologists have uncovered a huge Maya city hidden under the jungle canopy."
"Many Maya communities in Guatemala still speak their ancestral languages today."
2
In Hindu and Buddhist thought, the idea that the everyday physical world is an illusion masking a deeper spiritual reality.
"The philosophy teacher explained maya as the veil that hides ultimate truth from the senses."
"In this tradition, letting go of maya is a step toward enlightenment."
How to Use Maya
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the Mesoamerican people/civilisation, or (in Hindu/Buddhist philosophy) the illusion of the physical world.
Common mistake
Capitalise "Maya" when referring to the people, civilisation, or language; the philosophical term is usually left lowercase.
Word Forms
Mayas plural, Maya plural
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Archaeologists have uncovered a huge _____ city hidden under the jungle canopy.
Etymology
The Mesoamerican sense comes from the Maya people's own name for themselves; the philosophical sense is from Sanskrit māyā, meaning "illusion" or the power that creates it.