anicca: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowSpecialized (religious, philosophical, academic)
Quick answer
What does “anicca” mean?
Impermanence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Impermanence; the Buddhist concept that all conditioned phenomena are transient, unstable, and inconstant.
The fundamental doctrine in Buddhism that all things are subject to change, decay, and dissolution, and that attachment to them leads to suffering (dukkha).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
None. Usage is identical and confined to specialized contexts.
Connotations
Philosophical, spiritual, esoteric.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general usage. Seen only in religious studies, comparative philosophy, or mindfulness literature.
Grammar
How to Use “anicca” in a Sentence
[Subject] illustrates the principle of anicca.The [noun] is a perfect example of anicca.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anicca” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not used as a verb)
American English
- (Not used as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Rarely used adjectivally) The anicca nature of all phenomena is central.
American English
- (Rarely used adjectivally) He contemplated the anicca quality of mental formations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, philosophy, and psychology papers discussing Buddhist thought.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
A core technical term in Buddhist theology and meditative practice.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anicca”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anicca”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anicca”
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'an anicca thing'). It's primarily a noun.
- Attempting to use it in non-Buddhist contexts where 'impermanence' would be clearer.
- Misspelling as 'annica' or 'annica'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a specialized loanword from Pali used almost exclusively in discussions of Buddhist philosophy and practice.
'Impermanence' is the general English term. 'Anicca' carries the specific doctrinal weight and context of Buddhist teachings.
No. It is an uncountable noun referring to an abstract principle or quality.
It is pronounced /əˈnɪkə/ (uh-NIK-uh), with the stress on the second syllable.
Impermanence.
Anicca is usually specialized (religious, philosophical, academic) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The law of anicca”
- “Everything is anicca.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'a-nick-of-time' changes; nothing lasts, it's all anicca.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A FLOWING RIVER (constant change, nothing static).
Practice
Quiz
In which tradition is 'anicca' a core doctrinal term?