What does reincarnation mean?
Reincarnation is the belief or process that a person or being undergoes a new birth, especially after death, potentially with a different identity, body, or form. It is discussed in many religious and philosophical traditions, with its meaning varying according to each system, and it is also used more broadly for the revival or transformation of something that had ended or fallen out of favor. For example, writers may describe the restoration of an old building or the revival of an artistic movement as a form of reincarnation. The term can carry spiritual, imaginative, or speculative associations, but it can also be used neutrally in educational and cultural discussion. Its lasting interest lies in its connection with questions about identity, memory, continuity, and what happens after death. As a result, reincarnation is useful not only for describing doctrines about future lives but also for expressing the idea that something can emerge anew from an earlier form.
nounThe process or belief that a person or being is born again, especially into a new life after death. The term can also refer figuratively to the revival of an idea, tradition, or phase of life.
- The process or belief that a person or being is born again, especially after death.
- The renewed existence of a person or being in a new life, identity, or form.
- The revival or transformation of an idea, tradition, culture, or personal phase.
"Many philosophical and religious traditions have explored the idea of reincarnation and the possibility that the soul returns in a new form."
"According to the story, the hero discovers that his strange illness is connected to a past-life episode of reincarnation."
"The renovation gave the neglected theater a cultural reincarnation as a community arts center."
The plural is used when referring to multiple instances of renewed life or to several lives believed to result from rebirth.
"The mythology describes several reincarnations of the hero before he finally defeats the dragon."
Reincarnation turns the idea of death into a second beginning, and has inspired belief systems, myths, and stories across cultures for millennia.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reincarnation come from?
The English noun comes through Old French from Latin reincarnatio, a noun formed from reincarnare, meaning “to be born again.” That verb combines re-, meaning “again,” with incarnare, meaning “to make flesh” or “to become flesh,” ultimately related to the Latin word caro, meaning “flesh.” The English word was used for the religious and philosophical idea of renewed life after death, and later acquired figurative uses for cultural or personal revival.
Related word forms
How reincarnation is actually used
The word is most common in religious, philosophical, and speculative contexts, but it is also used metaphorically for dramatic revival or transformation. It is generally a countable noun, although the singular is often preferred when discussing the concept as a whole.
Easily confused with reincarnation
Reincarnation means being born again in a new life, while incarnation usually means becoming embodied in human form and can refer specifically to the doctrine of Christ's human incarnation.
Rebirth is a broader word for renewal or a fresh beginning, whereas reincarnation more specifically concerns a new life or form after death.