What does "maya" mean?
A member or descendant of various peoples:; a flourishing Mesoamerican civilization that existed in and around Guatemala from the 3rd century to the 9th century.
Maya
/ˈmaɪə/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A member or descendant of various peoples:; a flourishing Mesoamerican civilization that existed in and around Guatemala from the 3rd century to the 9th century.
- Grammar: maya is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: ancient maya civilization, appearance, enchantment, english.
- Useful contrasts: not mayan, brahman, non Maya.
- Usage evidence: For how long did the Maya culture flourish?
How to use "maya"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "maya" 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 "maya" 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
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "maya" is acting as name, 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 "ancient maya civilization" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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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 A member or descendant of various peoples:; a flourishing Mesoamerican civilization that existed in and around Guatemala from the 3rd century to the 9th century.
- 2 Magic; supernatural power as held by the gods. uncountable
- 3 a family of American Indian languages spoken by Mayas wordnet
- 4 A member or descendant of various peoples:; various Mesoamerican peoples that continued in competing civilizations from the 10th century onward until conquered by Spain
- 5 The power by which the universe is made to appear; the illusion of the phenomenal world, as opposed to its true or spiritual reality. Hinduism, uncountable
"Shankara prescribed meditative reflection, through which each individual could pierce the veil of maya and come to recognize the identity between his or her essence and the universal spirit."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 an ethnic minority speaking Mayan languages and living in Yucatan and adjacent areas wordnet
- 7 A member or descendant of various peoples:; various Mesoamerican peoples living in the Spanish Empire, and now parts of Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras
- 8 a member of an American Indian people of Yucatan and Belize and Guatemala who had a culture (which reached its peak between AD 300 and 900) characterized by outstanding architecture and pottery and astronomy wordnet
- 9 A member or descendant of various peoples:; a variety of Mesoamerican peoples with farming from around 1000 BC onward, who developed a large civilization from the 3rd century onward
Proper Noun
- 1 The Yucatec Maya language.
- 2 A female given name from Hebrew of modern usage.
"When her little friends asked her what her name was, her father replied that it was Conchita - his diminutive for Maria de la Concepción. "Con-what?" they would ask again, aware, apparently, that con in French is a fool, an idiot. So her parents started calling her Maria, which from the little girl's lips soon began to sound like Maya. "Maya!" exclaimed her father. "It's perfect. It means the greatest illusion on earth." So Maya it was from then on - Maya Walter."
- 3 In Sanskrit, illusion and the power that creates it; God's physical and metaphysical creation (literally, "not this").
- 4 The mother of Gautama Buddha.
- 5 Any of the other various Mayan languages.; Quiché.
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A female given name from Sanskrit used in India.
"Eventually, Pran and Savita decided by correspondence on Maya. Its two simple syllables meant, among other things: the goddess Lakshmi, illusion, fascination, art, the goddess Durga, kindness, and the name of the mother of Buddha. It also meant: ignorance, delusion, fraud, guile, and hypocrisy; but no one who named their daughter Maya ever paid any attention to those pejorative possibilities. - - - 'Why ever not, Ma?' said Meenakshi.'It's a very Bengali name, a very nice name.'"
- 7 Any of the other various Mayan languages.; Mam.
- 8 Any of the other various Mayan languages.; Tzotzil.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"For how long did the Maya culture flourish?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "maya"?
Common synonyms include: ancient maya civilization, appearance, enchantment, english, fascination, illusion.
How do you use "maya" in a sentence?
For how long did the Maya culture flourish?
How do you pronounce "maya"?
Pronounced /ˈmaɪə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Spanish maya, from Yucatec Maya mayab (“flat”), a self-designation of the northern Maya for themselves, in the form maya’ found in compounds and phrases e.g. maya’ wíinik (“Maya man”).
Etymology 2
From Maria, ultimately from Hebrew, and from Maia, from Latin.
Etymology 3
Transliteration of Sanskrit माया (māyā).
Etymology 4
Transliteration of Sanskrit माया (māyā́) or Pali Māyā.
Etymology 5
From Sanskrit माया (māyā).