crucifix

American  

[kroo-suh-fiks] / ˈkru sə fɪks /

noun

• crucifixes
  plural

1. a cross with the figure of Jesus crucified upon it.

2. any cross.

3. Gymnastics. a stunt performed on the parallel rings in which the athlete holds their body rigid with their legs vertically extended together and their arms extended horizontally from the shoulders.

---

crucifix British  

/ ˈkruːsɪfɪks /

noun

1. a cross or image of a cross with a figure of Christ upon it

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• crucificial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• crucifixes
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of crucifix

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Late Latin crucifīxus “the crucified one” (i.e., Christ), noun use of masculine of past participle of Latin crucifīgere “to crucify; ” see fix

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crucifix crucifixes

Standing on a concrete pedestal, the statue will depict the pontiff with open arms, wearing his long papal robe and a crucifix around his neck.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

The crucifix and Elgin watch conjured Sunday mornings and the quiet pride of women who never stepped outside without dignity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025

A small crucifix is affixed to the wall above, and a rolling, pink-topped hospital table sits on the far side of the room.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2025

Someone knelt down and clipped a microphone to her lapel, a few inches from the crucifix that dangled from her neck.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2025

There is a crucifix mounted on the wall, a flag of a cross draped over the lectern, and a few paintings of the Madonna and Child hanging in the back.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

In a middle-class neighborhood, altars, crucifixes, and images of the Pope adorn the home of Joaquin Kawakami Effio, a 15-year-old who is considering the priesthood.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Both hospice and inspiration, it’s a stifling place decorated with floral wallpaper and crucifixes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2026

The Roman Catholic Church has long been vigilant when it comes to supernatural apparitions like professed sightings of the Virgin Mary, weeping Madonnas or bleeding crucifixes.

From New York Times ● May 17, 2024

They send the more damaged wood to another prison in Rome, where prisoners make crucifixes for rosaries.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 13, 2024

All these angels start coming out of the boxes and everywhere, guys carrying crucifixes and stuff all over the place, and the whole bunch of them--thousands of them--singing "Come All Ye Faithful!" like mad.

From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---