sign of the cross

American  

noun

1. a movement of the hand to indicate a cross, as from forehead to breast and left shoulder to right or, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, from right shoulder to left.

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sign of the cross British  

noun

1. RC Church a gesture in which the right hand is moved from the forehead to the breast and from the left shoulder to the right to describe the form of a cross in order to invoke the grace of Christ

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sign of the cross Cultural  

1. A ritual gesture common in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Anglican Communion, made at the beginning and end of prayer as a reminder of Jesus' death on the cross. Worshipers make the sign by touching first the forehead, then the breast, and then each shoulder in turn, thus tracing in the air the shape of a cross.

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Etymology

Origin of sign of the cross

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300

Example Sentences

As they viewed the remains laid out on a white silk sheet, many pilgrims made the sign of the cross, others kneeled down.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

I made the sign of the cross, offered a short prayer, then drove back home.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2025

“It was only thanks to God that I survived,” he exclaims, furiously making the sign of the cross three times.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2024

At some point in the back-and-forth, the camera panned to Lauren Boebert, who attempted to trace the sign of the cross and somehow did it incorrectly.

From Slate • May 21, 2024

Using his thumb, he drew the sign of the cross on my forehead with sacred oil and said a prayer for my soul.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles