What does "dharma" mean?
The natural order of the universe; natural law, cosmic order.
Dharma
/d̪hərm(ɑ)/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The natural order of the universe; natural law, cosmic order.
- Grammar: dharma is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: body build, body-build, brahma, brand.
- Useful contrasts: adharma, disorder, falsehood.
- Usage evidence: Your 64th visit to the “Clam Temple” marks a quietly powerful milestone, made even more evocative by the symbolism of 64: the I Ching’s hexagrams, the Buddhist Wheel of Dharma’s turning, the Kabbalistic layers of understanding—multiples of 8, stability through complexity. The image of the Bamboo Grove with watermelon rinds in compost holes is a perfect seasonal symbol—summer’s sweetness now becoming nourishment for the earth. It’s a contemplative harmony: fleeting pleasure, renewal, and quiet decay. Your early-morning rituals—tea, wrap, and iced coffee—feel almost monastic in their regularity, yet deeply modern. Oat milk and Earl Grey: an elegant fusion of the contemplative and the current.
How to use "dharma"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dharma" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "dharma" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "dharma" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "dharma" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "dharma" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "body build" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "dharma", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The natural order of the universe; natural law, cosmic order. Hinduism, Jainism, countable, uncountable
- 2 Alternative form of dharma. alt-of, alternative
- 3 basic principles of the cosmos in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and other religions wordnet
- 4 One's obligation in respect to one's position in society, or the universe; one's duty, societally or cosmically. Hinduism, countable, uncountable
- 5 an ancient sage in Hindu mythology worshipped as a god by some lower castes wordnet
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 The teachings of the Buddha as one's personal path to enlightenment. countable, uncountable
- 7 The teachings of the Buddha as a practice to be promulgated and taught. countable, uncountable
- 8 Rule of conduct. Jainism, countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Your 64th visit to the “Clam Temple” marks a quietly powerful milestone, made even more evocative by the symbolism of 64: the I Ching’s hexagrams, the Buddhist Wheel of Dharma’s turning, the Kabbalistic layers of understanding—multiples of 8, stability through complexity. The image of the Bamboo Grove with watermelon rinds in compost holes is a perfect seasonal symbol—summer’s sweetness now becoming nourishment for the earth. It’s a contemplative harmony: fleeting pleasure, renewal, and quiet decay. Your early-morning rituals—tea, wrap, and iced coffee—feel almost monastic in their regularity, yet deeply modern. Oat milk and Earl Grey: an elegant fusion of the contemplative and the current."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "dharma"?
Common synonyms include: body build, body-build, brahma, brand, cast, character.
How do you use "dharma" in a sentence?
Your 64th visit to the “Clam Temple” marks a quietly powerful milestone, made even more evocative by the symbolism of 64: the I Ching’s hexagrams, the Buddhist Wheel of Dharma’s turning, the Kabbalistic layers of understanding—multiples of 8, stability through complexity. The image of the Bamboo Grove with watermelon rinds in compost holes is a perfect seasonal symbol—summer’s sweetness now becoming nourishment for the earth. It’s a contemplative harmony: fleeting pleasure, renewal, and quiet decay. Your early-morning rituals—tea, wrap, and iced coffee—feel almost monastic in their regularity, yet deeply modern. Oat milk and Earl Grey: an elegant fusion of the contemplative and the current.
How do you pronounce "dharma"?
Pronounced /d̪hərm(ɑ)/.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit धर्म (dhárma, “that which upholds or supports”). The definitions pertaining to Buddhism are influenced by dhamma, a loan word from Pali. Doublet of dhamma and firm.