The principle of non-violence and respect for all living beings, central to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It involves avoiding harm to any creature through thought, word, or deed.
From Sanskrit अहिंसा (ahiṃsā), literally meaning 'non-violence' or 'non-injury,' composed of 'a-' (not) and 'hiṃsā' (violence, injury). The concept entered English through scholarly and religious texts in the 19th century, gaining wider recognition through Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance in the early 20th century.
Gandhi didn't invent ahimsa - it's actually over 2,500 years old and was practiced by Jain monks who would sweep the ground before walking to avoid stepping on insects! The word became globally recognized when Gandhi used it as the foundation for India's independence movement, proving that an ancient spiritual concept could topple an empire.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.