# karma

/ˈkɑɹmə/ (US) · /kˈɑːmɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/karma
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. spiritual cause and effect

noun · CEFR B1

the belief that the good or bad things you do now will affect what happens to you in the future or in another life.

For teachers: the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.

- He believes that helping others will bring him good karma in his next life.
- In many Eastern traditions, karma is not a system of punishment but a natural law of cause and effect governing the cycle of rebirth.

### 2. reaping what you sow

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

the idea that if you do something bad, something bad will eventually happen to you as a result.

For teachers: a colloquial application of the spiritual concept, suggesting that one's current situation is a direct consequence of past actions.

- It was pure karma when his car broke down right after he cut me off in traffic.
- The politician's sudden fall from grace was viewed by many as a form of poetic karma for his years of dishonest dealings.

### 3. internet points

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a score on websites like Reddit that shows how much other people like your posts or comments.

For teachers: a numerical representation of a user's reputation or the popularity of their contributions on a digital forum.

- I posted a funny photo of my cat and earned a lot of karma overnight.
- Users with high karma are often granted additional privileges within the community, such as the ability to create new sub-forums or moderate discussions.

### 4. a feeling or aura

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the specific feeling or mood that a person or a place gives off.

For teachers: a distinctive atmosphere, aura, or emotional quality perceived as being emitted by a person, place, or situation.

- I didn't like that house; it had bad karma and felt very cold.
- The studio was filled with plants and soft music to ensure the space maintained a positive karma for the visiting artists.

## Examples

- He believes that helping others will bring him good karma.
- After he cheated on the test and got caught, his friends said it was just bad karma.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.