What does bhikkhuni mean?
A bhikkhuni is a woman who has been fully ordained as a nun in the Buddhist monastic community, having taken the complete set of vows that parallels those of a male monk, known as a bhikkhu. The word comes from Pali and is closely associated with the Theravada tradition, though related forms exist in Sanskrit and other Buddhist languages. Bhikkhunis live according to an extensive code of monastic discipline and belong to their own order within the wider sangha, the community of practitioners. Historically, the bhikkhuni lineage is said to have been established during the Buddha's lifetime, with his aunt and foster mother Mahapajapati Gotami recognized as the first such nun. Full ordination for women was lost in some Theravada countries for centuries and its modern restoration, beginning notably in Sri Lanka, has been a significant development in contemporary Buddhism. The term carries connotations of serious religious commitment and appears mainly in formal, academic, or devotional writing about Buddhist institutions.
nounA fully ordained Buddhist nun who has taken the complete set of monastic vows, corresponding to the male bhikkhu. The term is used especially in Theravada and other traditions where full female ordination is a distinct and historically contested institution.
- A fully ordained Buddhist nun who has received the complete monastic vows in the Buddhist sangha.
"The bhikkhuni ordination ceremony at the monastery drew monks and nuns from across Southeast Asia."
"After years of study, she was ordained as a bhikkhuni at a temple in Thailand."
"The revival of the bhikkhuni lineage in Sri Lanka in the late twentieth century remains a subject of scholarly debate."
Standard English plural; in strict Pali transliteration the plural is sometimes left unmarked as bhikkhunī.
"The conference brought together bhikkhunis from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan."
The order of bhikkhunis traces its founding to the Buddha's own aunt and foster mother, Mahapajapati Gotami — making it one of the world's oldest women's religious institutions.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bhikkhuni
Bhikkhuni derives from Pali bhikkhunī, the feminine form of bhikkhu meaning 'mendicant' or 'monk', from a Sanskrit root bhikṣ- relating to begging or receiving alms. It entered English through translations of Buddhist texts and scholarship on Southeast Asian religions. Cognate forms include Sanskrit bhikṣuṇī and the related masculine bhikṣu, all sharing the sense of one who lives by alms.
Related word forms
How bhikkhuni is actually used
Formal or scholarly register; the word is specific to Buddhist contexts and is not interchangeable with 'nun' generally, which may refer to Christian or other traditions. The macron spelling bhikkhunī reflects the Pali long final vowel and is preferred in academic writing.
Easily confused with bhikkhuni
A bhikkhu is a fully ordained Buddhist monk, while a bhikkhuni is the equivalent fully ordained nun; the terms are grammatically gendered forms of the same root.