What does mindfulness mean?
Mindfulness means attending consciously to the present moment rather than being absorbed in thoughts, memories, plans, or distractions. It commonly describes a mental practice in which people notice thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and surrounding activity with a quality of openness and without rushing to judge or react to them. Mindfulness can also describe an attentive approach to people or situations. In modern secular settings, the term often appears in meditation instruction, therapy, education, and wellness programs, although its use in English developed through the influence of Buddhist vocabulary. Although mindfulness sometimes suggests relaxation, it is broader than simply feeling calm: its central feature is deliberate, sustained attention. The word is useful because it names both a momentary state of awareness and a disciplined way of cultivating that awareness over time.
nounThe practice of being consciously aware of the present moment, including one's thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings, without judgment.
- The state or practice of being consciously present and attentive to one's current experience.
- A mental discipline involving sustained, nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts, emotions, sensations, and surroundings.
- The quality of being deliberately attentive to the significance of a person, action, or situation.
"She turned to mindfulness for a few quiet minutes before beginning her shift."
"He practiced mindfulness by noticing his breathing and returning his attention whenever his thoughts wandered."
"Her mindful approach to the dispute kept the discussion focused on understanding rather than defensiveness."
Rare; mindfulness is normally treated as an uncountable noun.
"The book examines several different mindfulnesses and their cultural traditions."
Mindfulness is often described as paying attention to the present, but its deeper ambition is to meet that moment without automatically judging it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mindfulness come from?
Mindfulness was formed in English by adding the suffix “-ness” to “mindful,” which in turn comes from the Old English mind, meaning attention or awareness. The compound became prominent in the 19th century, particularly in English translations and interpretations of Buddhist teachings. Related words include “mindful,” “mindfully,” and “mindless,” all of which share the same English root.
Related word forms
How mindfulness is actually used
In contemporary secular usage, the term often denotes a practical mental discipline based on attention and nonjudgmental awareness. In discussions of Buddhist practice, it may refer more specifically to meditation or the cultivation of awareness. The expression is broadly international and commonly used in educational, clinical, and wellness contexts.
Easily confused with mindfulness
Mindfulness is the sustained practice of present-moment awareness, whereas mindful is an adjective describing someone or something that is attentive and conscious.