# Mahayana

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /ˌmɑːhəˈjɑːnə/ · frequency rank #56,893

## Definitions
1. One of the two primary branches of Buddhism that emerged around the 1st century BCE, which accepts non-Pali canon scriptures, and emphasizes the path of bodhisattva.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Sanskrit महायान (mahāyāna, literally “Great Vehicle”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mahayana