theravada: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, academic, religious
Quick answer
What does “theravada” mean?
The oldest surviving school of Buddhism, prevalent in Southeast Asia.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The oldest surviving school of Buddhism, prevalent in Southeast Asia.
The form of Buddhism which bases its doctrine and practice solely on the Pali Canon, considered the most conservative branch, emphasizing the monastic path to enlightenment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The term is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Academic/religious context only in both.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse; appears only in specialized religious, historical, or area studies contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “theravada” in a Sentence
[Theravada] is practised in [country][Theravada] emphasises [concept][Subject] studies [Theravada]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “theravada” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Theravada perspective is quite distinct.
- He follows Theravada practices.
American English
- The Theravada approach is text-based.
- She attended a Theravada temple.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in religious studies, Asian studies, philosophy, and anthropology departments.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Precise term in Buddhist studies and comparative religion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “theravada”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “theravada”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “theravada”
- Using lowercase ('theravada'), using as a common noun ('a theravada'), misspelling ('Theraveda', 'Teravada').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is one major school or tradition within Buddhism, often called Southern Buddhism.
Primarily in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.
The canonical texts are in Pali.
Traditional Theravada doctrine holds that full enlightenment (nirvana) is attainable only by monastics (bhikkhus), though lay people can make significant progress.
The oldest surviving school of Buddhism, prevalent in Southeast Asia.
Theravada is usually formal, academic, religious in register.
Theravada: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθerəˈvɑːdə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθɛrəˈvɑdə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'THE REVIVED ADA' -> The oldest (The) revived form of Buddhism, as in Ada, a timeless name.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE TREE'S OLDEST BRANCH (Theravada as the original, foundational limb of the Buddhist tree).
Practice
Quiz
Theravada Buddhism is most accurately described as: