definitions

Christianity

[ kris-chee-an-i-tee ]
/ ˌkrɪs tʃiˈæn ɪ ti /
|

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.

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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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for christianity

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

Word Origin and History for christianity

Christianity

n.

c.1300, cristente, "Christians as a whole; state of being a Christian," from Old French crestienté "Christendom; spiritual authority; baptism" (Modern French chrétienté), from Church Latin christianitatem (nominative christianitas), noun of state from christianus (see Christian). Gradually respelled to conform with Latin. Christendom is the older word for it. Old English also had cristennes.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Culture 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.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.