Christ

American  

[krahyst] / kraɪst /

noun

Christs plural

1. Jesus of Nazareth, held by Christians to be the fulfillment of prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the eventual coming of a Messiah.

2. the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament (used chiefly in versions of the New Testament).

3. someone regarded as similar to Jesus of Nazareth.

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interjection

1. Sometimes Offensive. (used as an oath or strong expression of disbelief, dismay, awe, disappointment, pain, etc.)

Christ British  

/ kraɪst /

noun

1. Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), regarded by Christians as fulfilling Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah

2. the Messiah or anointed one of God as the subject of Old Testament prophecies

3. an image or picture of Christ

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interjection

1. taboo an oath expressing annoyance, surprise, etc

Christ ¹ Cultural  

1. A title for Jesus meaning “Messiah” or “anointed one.”

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Christ ² Cultural  

1. A title by which Christians (see also Christian) refer to Jesus. The word is a Greek translation of the Hebrew messiah, meaning “the anointed one.”

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Christly
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Christs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Christ

Learned respelling of Middle English, Old English Crīst < Latin Chrīstus < Greek chrīstos anointed, translation of Hebrew māshīaḥ anointed, Messiah

Example Sentences

The El Niño phenomenon was first observed by Peruvian fishermen in the 1600s, who nicknamed it El Niño de Navidad - Christ Child in Spanish.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

"I have come to meet Jesus Christ through the words of the pope," 30-year-old police officer Marta Perez told AFP.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

Across the street, the bells of Christ Church chimed the hour.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

St. Francis, unmistakable from his tonsure, his chestnut robe and his stigmata, looks lovingly at the Christ Child.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

“Just back there, for Christ sake. One side cliff, other side brambles, and in the middle a big fallen-down oak with about this much clearance.”

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson