In Buddhism, an enlightened being who delays entering nirvana in order to help other beings achieve enlightenment.
From Sanskrit bodhisattva, from bodhi (awakening/enlightenment) plus sattva (being/essence). This alternate spelling reflects different transliteration systems from Sanskrit to English.
The Bodhisattva concept is uniquely altruistic—these beings choose eternal service to others over personal salvation, representing Buddhism's emphasis on compassion over individual transcendence.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.