crusade

American  

[kroo-seyd] / kruˈseɪd /

noun

crusades plural

1. Often Crusade any of the military expeditions undertaken by the Christians of Europe in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries for the recovery of the Holy Land from the Muslims.

2. any war carried on under papal sanction.

3. any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea, cause, etc..

   a crusade against child abuse.

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verb (used without object)

crusades, present (3rd person singular) crusaded, past participle, past crusading present participle

1. to go on or engage in a crusade.

crusade British  

/ kruːˈseɪd /

noun

1. (often capital) any of the military expeditions undertaken in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries by the Christian powers of Europe to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims

2. (formerly) any holy war undertaken on behalf of a religious cause

3. a vigorous and dedicated action or movement in favour of a cause

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verb

1. to campaign vigorously for something

2. to go on a crusade

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• crusader
  noun
• noncrusading
  adjective
• post-Crusade
  adjective
• pre-Crusade
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• crusades
  plural

Participles

• crusading
  present
• crusaded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• crusade
  simple
• crusades
  simple
• have crusaded
  perfect
• has crusaded
  perfect
• am crusading
  progressive
• are crusading
  progressive
• is crusading
  progressive
• have been crusading
  perfect progressive
• has been crusading
  perfect progressive

Past

• crusaded
  simple
• had crusaded
  perfect
• was crusading
  progressive
• were crusading
  progressive
• had been crusading
  perfect progressive

Future

• will crusade
  simple
• will have crusaded
  perfect
• will be crusading
  progressive
• will have been crusading
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of crusade

First recorded in 1570–80; earlier crusada, from Spanish cruzada; replacing croisade, from Middle French. See cross, -ade ¹

Explanation

If you go on a crusade against vegetables, you are waging a long-term battle against leafy greens. A crusade is a passionate struggle against something or someone. In the 11th through 13th centuries, Roman Catholics attempting to win control of parts of what they considered the Holy Land (currently Israeli, Jordanian, Lebanese, and Palestinian lands) waged military battles against the Muslims who controlled the land. These battles are called the Crusades. The word crusade carries with it the feeling of a violent and vigorous fight. So if someone is on a crusade to do something, they mean business!

Example Sentences

Now, under mounting international pressure, authorities are on a crusade to rid the country of that reputation.

From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026

The crusade to prevent skin-cancer deaths, Mr. Jacobsen argues, has fostered an absolutism about the risks of sunlight that permeates the media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

The unlikely vehicle is not some glamorous investigative exposé or Pulitzer-winning newsroom crusade.

From Salon • May 13, 2026

Strickland, who is Hilton’s campaign chair, swears that he and his former colleagues didn’t plan to take their crusade statewide, but “when you do a great job, other opportunities present themselves.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

I didn’t want to be a symbol for the Justice League of Parents to use in their crusade to eradicate campus intolerance.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

Related Words

• demonstration
• expedition
• movement