Christianity

[ kris-chee-an-i-tee ]

/ ˌkrɪs tʃiˈæn ɪ ti /

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noun, plural Chris·ti·an·i·ties.

the Christian religion, including the Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Christian beliefs or practices; Christian quality or character: Christianity mixed with pagan elements; the Christianity of Augustine's thought.

a particular Christian religious system: She followed fundamentalist Christianity.

the state of being a Christian.

Christendom.

conformity to the Christian religion or to its beliefs or practices.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Christianity

1250–1300; Middle English cristianite<Latin chrīstiānitāt- (stem of chrīstiānitās), equivalent to chrīstiān-Christian + -itāt--ity; replacing Middle English cristiente<Middle French <Latin, as above

Words nearby Christianity

Christian Democratic Party, Christian Endeavor, Christian Era, Christiania, Christianism, Christianity, Christian IV, Christian IX, Christianize, Christianlike, Christianly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Christianity in a sentence

At Christianity Today, Peter Chin claims Christians should preach peace instead of bogging down in the particulars of race.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
To many outside Christianity, this looks a bit like polytheism!
Does Pope Francis Believe Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God?|Jay Parini|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Krampus makes manifest the shadow sides of human nature that Christianity seeks to repress.
Meet Krampus, the Seriously Bad Santa|Jay Michaelson|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Both priceless papyri that could shed light on early Christianity and forgeries are openly trafficked online.
Dismembering History: The Shady Online Trade in Ancient Texts|Candida Moss|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The main article called Reflections on the Final Crusade outlines in prophetic terms just how ISIS will crush Christianity.
The Pope’s Risky Trip|Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Judge for yourself the difficulty surrounding the remainder of the symbols and fundamental truths of christianity.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
We accepted the offer, so that they might see the difference between Christianity and their ungodliness.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
In other respects there is almost no change from the religion of the Gentiles to Christianity.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
His Evidences of Christianity is one of the ablest defences of the Christian religion that has ever appeared.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Another Christian argument is the claim that the faithfulness of the Christian martyrs proves Christianity to be true.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford

British Dictionary definitions for Christianity

Christianity

/ (ˌkrɪstɪˈænɪtɪ) /

noun

the Christian religion

Christian beliefs, practices or attitudes

a less common word for Christendom (def. 1)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Christianity

Christianity

The religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians (see also Christian) believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, sent by God. They believe that Jesus, by dying and rising from the dead, made up for the sin of Adam and thus redeemed the world, allowing all who believe in him to enter heaven. Christians rely on the Bible (see also Bible) as the inspired word of God. (See also gospel, Nativity, Resurrection, salvation (see also salvation), and Sermon on the Mount.)