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

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Participants in the 21-day program aim to reach the first of the four stages of enlightenment within Thai Theravada Buddhism. — Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025 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

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

Rhymes for Theravada

See All Rhymes for Theravada

Browse Nearby Words

the rat race
Theravada
Theravadin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Theravada.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Theravada. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on Theravada

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Theravada

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All