metempsychosis
definition
the supposed transmigration of the soul after death into a new body
example
Many ancient cultures believed in metempsychosis as a way to explain the cycle of life and death, suggesting that the soul moves into a new body after the physical form ceases to exist.
synonyms
reincarnationtransmigrationrebirth
word origin — from Greek 'metempsukhosis', meaning 'transmigration of the soul', from 'meta' meaning 'beyond' and 'psukhē' meaning 'soul'.