Karma
noun /ˈkɑːmə/ — The sum of one's actions — in Hindu and Buddhist thought, the force they create that shapes the future.
Definition
In Hinduism and Buddhism, the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences; the notion that good actions produce good outcomes and vice versa.
Beyond the definition
Karma has entered English conversation as a secular moral principle — what goes around comes around. The philosophical concept is richer: it concerns the accumulated weight of action across lives, not just immediate reciprocity. But the shortened form names something real about how people experience moral cause and effect.
Origin & history
From Sanskrit karma — action, effect (from karoti: he makes, does). Action and its consequence — the Sanskrit root means 'to make.' Karma is the making that accumulates.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She trusted karma in the slow, long-form sense — not immediate justice but eventual accounting.
The karma of the decision: she would be dealing with the consequences for years.
What people mean by karma is usually simpler than the philosophy — they mean that action has weight.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Karma” when the meaning fits your context: In Hinduism and Buddhism, the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences; the notion that good actions produce good outcomes and vice versa.
Synonyms
Antonyms
randomness, accident, chance
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Ordered Life Construction
An adult works at a table, meticulously arranging interlocking wooden pieces into a clear, ordered structure.
The careful, methodical construction of a structure reflects the principles of karma, where every action and choice builds upon the previous one. The logical order illustrates how the sum of individual, intentional acts eventually results in a larger, coherent, and predetermined outcome.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Karma" mean?
Karma is noun meaning: The sum of one's actions — in Hindu and Buddhist thought, the force they create that shapes the future.. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences; the notion that good actions produce good outcomes and vice versa.
Where does the word "Karma" come from?
From Sanskrit karma — action, effect (from karoti: he makes, does). Action and its consequence — the Sanskrit root means 'to make.' Karma is the making that accumulates.