buddhist

buddhist — noun

IPA/ˈbʊd.ɪst/
KK[bˈudəst]IPA/ˈbʊd.ɪst/
  • buddhistsingular
  • buddhistsplural

1. a person who follows the religion of Buddhism

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who follows the religion of Buddhism

Example

Aiko became a Buddhist while teaching English in Taipei.

pattern: become a Buddhist

Two Buddhists from Thailand explained the festival to the guide.

Common collocations
  • devout Buddhist
  • become a Buddhist
  • practising Buddhist
Synonyms
  • adherent

    more formal, especially in writing or academic discussion

  • follower

    broader; people often add 'of Buddhism' to make the religion clear

Antonyms
  • non-Buddhist

    describes a person who does not belong to this religion

Usage Note

Usually capitalized. In everyday English, it often follows be or become, for example 'be a Buddhist' or 'become a Buddhist'.

Common Mistakes

She is buddhist.
She is Buddhist.
Names of religions and their followers are usually capitalized in English.

buddhist — adjective

IPA/ˈbʊdɪst/
KK[bˈudəst]IPA/ˈbuːdɪst/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Buddhist is the normal everyday word for a person who follows Buddhism. Believer is much broader and does not name any religion by itself, so listeners may need more information. Follower is also broad; when people want to be exact, they often say follower of Buddhism. Adherent is the most formal choice and appears more often in writing, academic work, or reports than in conversation. Buddhist can also refer to identity in a cultural or family sense, not only personal belief. For example, My landlord is a Buddhist sounds natural in speech, while an adherent of Buddhism fits a formal article better.

believer ↗follower ↗adherent ↗

Etymology

SanskritPaliEnglish

English formed Buddhist from Buddhism and the ending -ist, which names a person connected with a belief or movement. Buddhism comes from Buddha, a title for Siddhartha Gautama meaning 'the awakened one' in Sanskrit and Pali.