mindfulness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal; common in wellness, psychological, and corporate contexts.
Quick answer
What does “mindfulness” mean?
The quality or state of being consciously aware and attentive to the present moment, without judgment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality or state of being consciously aware and attentive to the present moment, without judgment.
A meditative practice derived from Buddhist traditions, now widely used in secular contexts to cultivate calm, focus, and non-reactive awareness of one's thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Usage patterns are identical.
Connotations
Slightly more established in mainstream UK discourse due to earlier adoption through the National Health Service (NHS) therapies. In the US, strong associations with Silicon Valley and corporate wellness.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, with a slight edge in US corpora due to commercial and therapeutic marketing.
Grammar
How to Use “mindfulness” in a Sentence
practise + mindfulnesscultivate + mindfulnessteach + mindfulness + to + someoneuse + mindfulness + to + verb (infinitive)mindfulness + helps + with + nounVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mindfulness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She tries to practise mindfulness each morning.
- He was taught to mindful his breathing.
American English
- She practices mindfulness daily.
- He uses the app to help him mindfully eat.
adverb
British English
- He listened mindfully to her concerns.
- She ate her lunch mindfully, focusing on each flavour.
American English
- She walked mindfully through the park.
- He answered the question mindfully after a short silence.
adjective
British English
- She took a mindful approach to the news.
- The course teaches mindful breathing techniques.
American English
- He made a mindful decision to pause before replying.
- They engaged in mindful walking.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe training aimed at reducing stress, improving focus, and enhancing emotional intelligence among employees.
Academic
A subject of study in psychology, neuroscience, and counselling research, often in phrases like 'mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)'.
Everyday
Common in discussions about mental wellbeing, stress management, and self-improvement. (e.g., 'I'm trying to be more mindful of my reactions.')
Technical
In clinical psychology, refers to specific therapeutic interventions like Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mindfulness”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mindfulness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mindfulness”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'I did a mindfulness' is incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'meditation' (mindfulness is a quality/type of meditation).
- Misspelling as 'mindfullness' (double 'l').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its roots are in Buddhist meditation, modern secular mindfulness is taught as a psychological skill for wellbeing, separate from any religious belief.
Relaxation aims for a state of calm. Mindfulness aims for a state of aware, accepting observation, which may or may not be relaxing. It's about how you relate to your experience, not changing it.
Formal seated meditation is a common training method, but mindfulness can be applied informally to any daily activity (e.g., mindful washing-up) by bringing full attention to it.
Trying to 'clear the mind' or getting frustrated by having thoughts. The practice is to notice when the mind has wandered and gently return attention, without self-criticism.
The quality or state of being consciously aware and attentive to the present moment, without judgment.
Mindfulness is usually neutral to formal; common in wellness, psychological, and corporate contexts. in register.
Mindfulness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪnd.fəl.nəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪnd.fəl.nəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Be in a state of mindfulness.”
- “Bring mindfulness to [an activity]. (e.g., Bring mindfulness to your eating.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MIND-FULL-NESS: Imagine your mind is FULLY present, not thinking of the past or future, just full of the NOW.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A MUSCLE (that can be trained through exercise/practice). AWARENESS IS A LIGHT (shining on the present moment).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the core principle of mindfulness?