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

See Examples For:

Christ Christs

Brazil, known for its Christ the Redeemer statue looming over Rio de Janeiro, hosts the world's second-largest Christian population after the United States, according to the Pew Research Center.

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

He urged lay and religious Catholics to engage in this daily devotion, which he believed was essential for developing a personal relationship with Christ.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

For the faithful entering Christ Our Savior Catholic Parish in Santa Ana, the statue of Saint John the Baptist placing holy water on the head of Jesus represented a core tenant of Christianity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

"It really made me realise I needed and wanted a relationship with Christ like Charlie had," he adds.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

Anyway, fellowship at Christ Temple really means snack time, and snack time really means fried or baked chicken, potato salad, green beans, pound cake, and soda.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

The movie “Three Christs” is based on his book “The Three Christs of Ypsilanti,” published in 1964 and still in print.

From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2020

Three Christs An empathetic psychiatrist treats three men suffering from schizophrenia in 1959 Michigan.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2019

But that performance pales compared to his role in Jon Avnet’s Three Christs, where he plays one of a trio of schizophrenics who claim to be Jesus.

From The Verge ● Sep. 22, 2017

They don’t usually believe in flying saucers, like the 39 suicides of Heaven’s Gate, or homegrown Christs with a taste for classic rock, like the Branch Davidians of Waco.

From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2013

Unlike the suffering, earthbound Christs depicted at eye level on the church walls, our Christ Pantocrator was clearly transcendent, all-powerful, heaven- bestriding.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides