priest's name; posthumous Buddhist name
Refers to the name a Buddhist priest receives upon ordination, or the name given to a deceased layperson posthumously. Used in Buddhist contexts.
彼の法号は「釋尼妙法」です。
His posthumous Buddhist name is 'Shakuni Myōhō'.
僧侶になると、師から法号を授かります。
When you become a monk, you receive a priest's name from your teacher.
From 法 (ほう, 'dharma, Buddhist law') + 号 (ごう, 'name, title'). The term is used in Buddhist contexts to denote a name associated with the dharma.