From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmantraman‧tra /ˈmæntrə/ noun [countable] 1 RRHa word or sound that is repeated as a prayer or to help people meditaterecite/repeat a mantra He closed his eyes and began to recite a Buddhist mantra.2 a word or phrase representing a rule or principle which someone often uses, but which other people often find annoying or boring The Treasury Secretary has stuck to his mantra that ‘a strong dollar is in America’s interest’.3 a piece of holy writing in the Hindu religion
Examples from the Corpus
mantra• John sits down on the bed and recites a mantra under his breath.• His mantra is hope, growth and opportunity.• Rightwing mantras of tax cuts and small government no longer excite voters.• Flattening tax rates has fast become the mantra of reform-minded politicians.• Think of it in terms of science if you like, but say the mantra anyway.• Every morning she could hear them singing their mantras with the children.recite/repeat a mantra• John sits down on the bed and recites a mantra under his breath.Origin mantra (1700-1800) Sanskrit “thought, advice”, from man “to think” 