karma

Everyday

1. (religion) In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, karma is the idea that a person's actions, good or bad, bring results back to them, in this life or a future life. tree →
2. (informal) The idea that good or bad things happen to you because of how you behaved: «That's karma!». tree →

In the lessons

In religious education karma is taught with rebirth (reincarnation) in Indian religions. In everyday English people use «karma» loosely, often as a joke when someone who did wrong has bad luck. Phrases: «good karma», «bad karma», «instant karma», «karma will get you».

Examples

• Hindus believe karma follows a person into their next life. tree →
• Buddhists try to do good actions to make good karma. tree →
• He laughed at me and then tripped; that's karma! (informal) tree →
• Helping others is said to bring good karma. tree →
• The idea of karma means our actions matter. tree →
• Instant karma: the boy who took the last cake dropped it. tree →
• Our RE teacher explained karma with a story about a kind farmer. tree →

Note

Uncountable. A Sanskrit word meaning «action». The everyday joke sense («karma got him») is looser than the religious meaning; in the religions karma is not a magic punishment but the result of actions.