Maya

/ˈmaɪə/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: Mayas

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A member or descendant of various peoples: — a flourishing Mesoamerican civilization that existed in and around Guatemala from the 3rd century to the 9th century.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A member or descendant of various peoples: — various Mesoamerican peoples that continued in competing civilizations from the 10th century onward until conquered by Spain

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Magic; supernatural power as held by the gods.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

The power by which the universe is made to appear; the illusion of the phenomenal world, as opposed to its true or spiritual reality.

Noun

Examples

Shankara prescribed meditative reflection, through which each individual could pierce the veil of maya and come to recognize the identity between his or her essence and the universal spirit.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “Maya” mean?

A member or descendant of various peoples: — a flourishing Mesoamerican civilization that existed in and around Guatemala from the 3rd century to the 9th century.

Is “Maya” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.