Meanings
- BuddhismTheravada Buddhism.
1913, Buddhism, article in Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3: Brownson–Clairvaux, It was known as the Mahayana, or Great Vehicle, in distinction to the other and earlier form of Buddhism contemptuously styled the Hinayana or Little Vehicle, which held its own in the South.
2 more examples
1921, Charles Eliot, Hinduism And Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Volume II, Book IV: The Mahayana, 2005 Gutenberg Ebook edition, The obscurest period in the history of Buddhism is that which follows the reign of Asoka, but the enquirer cannot grope for long in these dark ages without stumbling upon the word Mahayana. […] The word_([1]) signifies Great Vehicle or Carriage, that is a means of conveyance to salvation, and is contrasted with Hinayana, the Little Vehicle, a name bestowed on the more conservative party though not willingly accepted by them.
"Do it yourself" is a modern phrase which expresses the Hinayana way to salvation.
1979, Ward J. Fellows, Religions East and West, page 171
Synonyms & antonyms
nounan offensive name for the early conservative Theravada Buddhism; it died out in India but survived in Sri Lanka and was taken from there to other regions of southwestern Asia
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Transliteration of Sanskrit हीनयान (hīnayāna, “lesser vehicle”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Hungarian hínajána
- hínajánaschool of Buddhism
Indonesian Hinayana
- Hinayanaschool of Buddhism
Japanese 小乗
- 小乗 (shōjō)school of Buddhism
Malay Hinayana
- Hinayanaschool of Buddhism
Cite this entry
Hinayana. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hinayana
“Hinayana.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hinayana. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Hinayana,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Hinayana.
Source: Hinayana on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.