avidya

noun

avi·​dya
(ˌ)əˈvid(ˌ)yä
variants or less commonly avijja
-i(ˌ)jä
plural -s
Hinduism & Buddhism
: ignorance
specifically : blindness to ultimate truth

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit avidyā, literally, ignorance, from a- a- entry 2 + vidyā knowledge

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near avidya

Cite this Entry

“Avidya.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avidya. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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