rebirth

Rebirth is a term that denotes the renewal of life or a renewed state after a period of decline, death, or dormancy. In everyday usage it can refer to personal transformations, the revival of a city, or the start of a new life after an end.

In religious traditions, rebirth often refers to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth known as reincarnation or samsara. In Hinduism and Jainism, the soul or life force persists through multiple lives, shaped by karma. In Buddhism, rebirth is linked to volitional formations and lacks a permanent self; liberation is achieved by breaking the cycle. In Christianity some thinkers distinguish resurrection from rebirth; in others the term is used metaphorically for spiritual renewal.

In biology and ecology, rebirth or regeneration describes renewed growth after injury, and is studied in regenerative medicine; models include salamander limb regrowth and planarian regeneration. Humans also experience tissue renewal and developmental re-birth through growth and healing. In cultural contexts, rebirth denotes renaissance or revival, including urban revitalization and the revival of arts and traditions after decline.

In literature, film, and popular discourse, rebirth is used as a central motif—characters undergo profound transformations, economies recover from crisis, or species adapt to new environments. The term is closely related to but distinct from resurrection (return from death with a body) and reincarnation (the soul's continuous journey through lives).