noun · 4 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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈmɑː.nə/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈmæ-/
General-American:/ˈmɑ.nə/
General-American:/ˈmæ-/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
New-Zealand:/ˈmana/
New-Zealand:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɑːnə
CMU ARPABET:M AA1 N AH0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Power, prestige; specifically, a form of supernatural energy in Polynesian religion that inheres in things or people.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Magical energy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable, usually
Qualifier: fantasy roleplaying games
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Alternative form of mina (“ancient unit of weight or currency”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, alternative
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Alternative spelling of manna.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, alternative, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Māori mana, ultimately from Proto-Polynesian *mana, from Proto-Oceanic *mana. The use of "mana" for "magical energy" in role-playing games originated from Larry Niven, when he wrote the short story, "Not Long Before the End", in 1969. It was later popularised by his The Magic Goes Away setting.
Across languages
Translations
8 source translations are retained for this English entry.