Christian

¹

[kris-chuhn]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings.

   a Christian faith.

2. of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

   Spain is a Christian country.

3. of or relating to Christians.

   many Christian deaths in the Crusades.

4. exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ; Christlike.

   She displayed true Christian charity.

5. Sometimes Offensive.,  decent; respectable.

   They gave him a good Christian burial.

6. Sometimes Offensive.,  human; not brutal; humane.

   Such behavior isn't Christian.

noun

1. a person who believes in Jesus Christ; adherent of Christianity.

2. a person who exemplifies in their life the teachings of Christ.

   He died like a true Christian.

3. a member of any of certain Protestant churches, as the Disciples of Christ and the Plymouth Brethren.

4. the hero of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.

5. a male given name.

Christian

²

[kris-chuhn]

noun

1. Charlie, 1916–42, U.S. jazz guitarist.

Christian

¹

/ ˈkrɪstʃən /

noun

1. 1. a person who believes in and follows Jesus Christ

   2. a member of a Christian Church or denomination

2. informal,  a person who possesses Christian virtues, esp practical ones

adjective

1. of, relating to, or derived from Jesus Christ, his teachings, example, or his followers

2. (sometimes not capital) exhibiting kindness or goodness

Christian

²

/ ˈkrɪstʃən /

noun

1. Charlie. 1919–42, US jazz guitarist

Christian

¹

1. A follower or disciple of Jesus; someone who believes Jesus is the Christ or Messiah. The New Testament mentions that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians within a few years after his death.

Christian

²

1. A follower of Jesus and his teachings. Christian is also a descriptive term for the institutions and practices of Christianity.

Other Word Forms

• Christianly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Christian¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin Chrīstiānus, from Greek Chrīstiānós, equivalent to Chrīst(ós) Christ + -iānos, from Latin -iānus -ian; replacing Middle English, Old English cristen from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

Narratives of "Christian genocide" and "persecution" in Nigeria have been bubbling up on social media in recent months, finding purchase among the American and European far right.

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Mr. Carlson calls Christian support for Israel a “brain virus” and a “heresy” and says Vladimir Putin is “the most popular leader in the world.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There, Smith proclaims herself general of the neighborhood’s Buddy Gang, fearlessly fending off bullies twice her size, while at school, she was viewed as odd by her teachers, “like something out of Hans Christian Andersen.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A devout Christian and church leader, he speaks openly about how his faith has shaped his jurisprudence and administration of the courts.

Read more on Salon

A devout Christian born in Mumbai, Rodrigues said she was told just five minutes before the match to bat at number three.

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