noun
Buddha; the Buddha
Honorific term for the Buddha, used in religious contexts or when referring to Buddhist statues and images.
お寺で仏様にお参りした。
I prayed to the Buddha at the temple.
noun
Euphemistic and respectful way to refer to someone who has passed away, often used in Buddhist contexts or when speaking of the dead with reverence.
仏様は生前、とても優しい方でした。
The deceased was a very kind person in life.
仏 is the plain form for Buddha or a deceased person; 仏様 adds the honorific 様, making it more respectful and polite.
Compound of 仏 (hotoke, 'Buddha' or 'deceased person') and the honorific suffix 様 (sama). The reading hotoke is of uncertain origin, possibly from a native Japanese word or an early borrowing.