crusade

[ kroo-seyd ]

/ kruˈseɪd /

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See synonyms for: crusade / crusaded / crusading / crusader on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

any war carried on under papal sanction.

any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea, cause, etc.: a crusade against child abuse.

verb (used without object), cru·sad·ed, cru·sad·ing.

to go on or engage in a crusade.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of crusade

First recorded in 1570–80; earlier crusada, from Spanish cruzada; replacing croisade, from Middle French. See cross, -ade¹

OTHER WORDS FROM crusade

cru·sad·er, nounnon·cru·sad·ing, adjectivepost-Cru·sade, adjectivepre-Cru·sade, adjective

Words nearby crusade

cruor, crupper, crura, crural, crus, crusade, crusader, Crusades, crusado, cruse, crush

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

How to use crusade in a sentence

Within those strictures, Khan has channeled much of his energy into cleaning up London’s highly polluted air, through a bold crusade to reduce car traffic and improve vehicle standards.
'We Know How to Bounce Back.' Sadiq Khan Has a Plan to Build a Greener, Fairer London Post-Pandemic|Ciara Nugent|August 11, 2021|Time
Thus launches a crusade, one that is nearly derailed at every turn by the toxicity of Sheila’s inner monologue and her propensity for self-destruction.
Rose Byrne on Unleashing Her Meanest Streak Yet in ‘Physical’: ‘It’s Deeply Uncomfortable’|Kevin Fallon|June 17, 2021|The Daily Beast
Thiel said that immediately after speaking with Salmon she decided to take her crusade public.
In Texas, a struggle to memorialize a brutal lynching as resistance grows to teaching historical racism|Sydney Trent|June 3, 2021|Washington Post
What is needed is not a general and blunt crusade against the police but reforms and resources to professionalize these forces, while demanding real accountability to those who abuse their power.
A Deadly Police Raid in Rio Show How Bolsonaro's Policies Are Wreaking Havoc in Brazil|David Miranda|May 8, 2021|Time

Apple, of course, is on its own solitary crusade against third-party cookies and other cross-site tracking techniques.
WTF is FLEDGE?|Kate Kaye|January 27, 2021|Digiday
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
The Harvard 28 join other liberal and feminist dissenters from the campus anti-rape crusade.
Harvard Liberals Hate New Campus Sex Laws|Cathy Young|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Much of the fervor for war in 1860 was driven by a moral crusade against slavery.
America’s Slumbering Secession Obsession|James Poulos|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In this way, the U.S. would avoid the trap of being viewed, once again, as the leader of an anti-Islamic crusade.
Stop the ISIS War Before It Gets Worse!|Jeffrey Sachs, Michael Shank|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A crusade is based on the spirit of the people, and the will of volunteers.
The Unsung Heroism of Jesse Jackson|David Masciotra|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
First, he begged for the usual indulgences necessary to enable him to fulfil his vow to go on a crusade.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
The memory of the terrible crusade in the thirteenth century inspired fiery poems among them.
Frdric Mistral|Charles Alfred Downer
There was, in fact, a crusade against toll-gates commenced during this year, in almost every part of South Wales.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan
If Valmond were in very truth a Napoleon, all might be well, though this crusade must close here.
When Valmond Came to Pontiac, Complete|Gilbert Parker
And must she run, despite the tears And prayers of eighteen hundred years,A-muck in Slavery's crusade?
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.

British Dictionary definitions for crusade

crusade

/ (kruːˈseɪd) /

noun

(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

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

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

verb (intr)

to campaign vigorously for something

to go on a crusade

Derived forms of crusade

crusader, noun

Word Origin for crusade

C16: from earlier croisade, from Old French crois cross, from Latin crux; influenced also by Spanish cruzada, from cruzar to take up the cross

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

crusade

Origin of crusade

OTHER WORDS FROM crusade

Words nearby crusade

Words related to crusade

How to use crusade in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for crusade

Derived forms of crusade

Word Origin for crusade