Dalai Lama

noun

Da·​lai La·​ma ˌdä-lī-ˈlä-mə How to pronounce Dalai Lama (audio)
ˌdä-lā-,
ˌda-
: the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism

Examples of Dalai Lama in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The party accuses the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, of having ruled over a slaveholding society. Chris Buckley, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader who fled his homeland in 1959 after it was taken over by China, said he was deeply saddened. Joe Cash and Gopal Sharma, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025 Shigatse, which is about 240 miles from the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, is the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second most important spiritual figure in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama. Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 7 Jan. 2025 The quake’s epicenter was located near Shigatse, one of Tibet’s holiest cities and the traditional home of the Panchen Lama, the second most powerful figure in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama. Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for Dalai Lama 

Word History

Etymology

Mongolian dalai ocean

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Dalai Lama was in 1698

Dictionary Entries Near Dalai Lama

Cite this Entry

“Dalai Lama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Dalai%20Lama. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Biographical Definition

Dalai Lama

biographical name

Da·​lai La·​ma ˈdä-ˌlī-ˈlä-mə How to pronounce Dalai Lama (audio)
1935–     Tenzin Gyatso Tibetan religious and political leader

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