Standard Lemma guide

lishmah

adv · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /liʃˈma/ General American, influenced by Sephardic Hebrew/Israeli Hebrew pronunciation
  • [lɪʃˈmɑ] General American, influenced by Sephardic Hebrew/Israeli Hebrew pronunciation
  • /ləʃˈmɒ/ General American, influenced by Ashkenazic Hebrew/Yiddish pronunciation
  • [ləʃˈmɔ] General American, influenced by Ashkenazic Hebrew/Yiddish pronunciation

1

adv

Meaning 1

for its own sake, purely for the sake of something, without outside influence such as possible rewards

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: English, Jewish, Judaism

Examples

  • A true tzadik doesn't do a mitzvah for skhar, rather he does a mitzvah lishmah and b'simcha!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Hebrew לִשְׁמָהּ (lishmáh, “to/for her/its name”). See Torah lishmah (“Torah for its own sake”).