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• gospel
  gospel

  noun

  the teachings of Jesus and the apostles; the Christian revelation.
• Gospel
  Gospel

  noun

  any of the first four books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

gospel

American  

[gos-puhl] / ˈgɒs pəl /

noun

• gospels
  plural

1. the teachings of Jesus and the apostles; the Christian revelation.

2. the story of Christ's life and teachings, especially as contained in the first four books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

3. (usually initial capital letter) any of these four books.

4. something regarded as true and implicitly believed.

   to take his report for gospel.

5. a doctrine regarded as of prime importance.

   political gospel.

6. glad tidings, especially concerning salvation and the kingdom of God as announced to the world by Christ.

7. (often initial capital letter) an extract from one of the four Gospels, forming part of the Eucharistic service in certain churches.

8. gospel music.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or proclaiming the gospel or its teachings.

   a gospel preacher.

2. in accordance with the gospel; evangelical.

3. of or relating to gospel music.

   a gospel singer.

Gospel ¹ British  

/ ˈɡɒspəl /

noun

1. any of the first four books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

2. a reading from one of these in a religious service

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gospel ² British  

/ ˈɡɒspəl /

noun

1. Also called: gospel truth.  an unquestionable truth

   to take someone's word as gospel

2. a doctrine maintained to be of great importance

3. Black religious music originating in the churches of the Southern states of the United States

4. the message or doctrine of a religious teacher

5. 1. the story of Christ's life and teachings as narrated in the Gospels

   2. the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ

   3. ( as modifier )

      the gospel story

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gospel Cultural  

1. The “good news” of salvation (see also salvation) (see Gospels). Certain styles of religious music are also called “gospel.” (See spirituals (see also spirituals).)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nongospel
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• gospels
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gospel

First recorded before 950; Middle English go(d)spell, Old English gōdspell ( see good, spell ²); translation of Greek euangélion “good news” ( see evangel ¹)

Explanation

Follow advice like gospel and you're following it as though it was the final word or authority on the matter. The word gospel comes from the Old English god meaning "good" and spel meaning "news, a story." In Christianity, the term "good news" refers to the story of Jesus Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. Gospel music is heard in church and sung by a gospel choir. Outside of its application to religion, the word gospel is also used to describe an idea or rule that's accepted as undoubtedly true.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gospel Gospel gospels

I start with gospel, then a slow R&B vibe and then right before the game, it’s turn-up hip-hop and rap.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

Don't Look Down is an album-length interrogation of his motives, insecurities and role as a father, set to a sparkling fusion of hip-hop, gospel and R&B.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

I have certain genres that I always check out: I’m particularly into Jamaican gospel now, which is kind of primitive and not reggae, very illuminated, great singers.

From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026

Willis, born July 1, 1951, in Texas but a San Francisco native, grew up around gospel music in his minister father’s Baptist church.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

“And Mrs. Walton, who knew you play gospel music?”

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles

Our parish lived and practiced American Catholicism’s long tradition of welcoming the stranger, the outcast, the refugee — following the example and words of the Gospel we read every Sunday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Gospel choirs, country musicians, jazz ensembles, mariachi groups, Indigenous performers, military bands and local community orchestras share stages throughout the city.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

The blaze at a former Gospel Hall on the Shankill Road began in the early hours of Saturday.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026

Last July saw a revival of the musical “The Gospel at Colonus,” based on Sophocles’ “Oedipus at Colonus.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026

Brahe did not count the star of Bethlehem as a true star, for the Gospel of Matthew describes it as moving in the heavens.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

As the judge noted in her ruling, the ongoing controversy has as much to do with when and how the diagnostic gospels were compiled as the scientific validity of the ailment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026

It was Tyndale’s personal encounter with the gospels that caused him to risk everything—exile, shame, poverty, imprisonment—to put the Bible into the hands of ordinary people.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026

Pope Leo then took the book of the gospels to bless the people.

From BBC ● May 18, 2025

She got some money from her college and entered into an obscure essay contest, writing about the Greek text of one of the gospels.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 22, 2023

Of course, Henry meant the “He” of the twenty-third psalm and of the gospels and of all the pastor’s sermons.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez

Related Words

• dogma
• faith
• truth