1. a Japanese school of Buddhism emphasizing meditation and intuition rather than ritual worship or study of scriptures
Usage: often capitalized
2. a state of calm attentiveness in which one’s actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort
Usage: informal

1. having a calm, peaceful, or meditative quality
Usage: informal

Examples

• She studied Zen Buddhism during her time in Japan.
• The monk practiced Zen meditation every morning.
• He approached the problem with a zen attitude.
• The spa had a very zen atmosphere with soft music and dim lighting.
• After yoga class, I felt completely zen.
• Her zen garden featured carefully arranged rocks and sand.
• The minimalist design created a zen feeling in the room.