Theravada

noun

Ther·​a·​va·​da ˌther-ə-ˈvä-də How to pronounce Theravada (audio)
: a conservative branch of Buddhism comprising sects chiefly in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia and adhering to the original Pali scriptures alone and to the nontheistic ideal of nirvana for a limited select number compare mahayana

Examples of Theravada in a Sentence

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That night, two monks and a Theravada Buddhist priest conducted a chanting and blessing ceremony aboard The Jahan. — Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2025 Though they are most comprehensively delineated in the Theravada Buddhism school of Southeast Asia, the jhanas predate the Buddha and find parallels across contemplative traditions, from Carmelite nuns to Sufi mystics. — By Naina Bajekal / Applegate, Calif., TIME, 7 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Pali theravāda, literally, doctrine of the elders

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Theravada was in 1836

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“Theravada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Theravada. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Theravada

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