Messiah

[ mi-sahy-uh ]
See synonyms for Messiah on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the promised and expected deliverer of the Jewish people.

  2. Jesus Christ, regarded by Christians as fulfilling this promise and expectation. John 4:25, 26.

  1. (usually lowercase) any expected deliverer.

  2. (usually lowercase) a zealous leader of some cause or project.

  3. (italics) an oratorio (1742) by George Frideric Handel.

Origin of Messiah

1
<Late Latin (Vulgate) Messīās<Greek Messī́ās<Hebrew māshīaḥ literally, anointed
  • Also Douay Bible, Mes·si·as [mi-sahy-uhs] /mɪˈsaɪ əs/ (for defs. 1, 2).

Other words from Messiah

  • Mes·si·ah·ship, noun
  • Mes·si·an·ic [mes-ee-an-ik], /ˌmɛs iˈæn ɪk/, adjective
  • Mes·si·an·i·cal·ly, adverb
  • pre-Mes·si·an·ic, adjective
  • pseu·do-Mes·si·an·ic, adjective

Words Nearby Messiah

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

How to use Messiah in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Messiah

Messiah

/ (mɪˈsaɪə) /


noun
  1. Judaism the awaited redeemer of the Jews, to be sent by God to free them

  2. Jesus Christ, when regarded in this role

  1. an exceptional or hoped for liberator of a country or people

Origin of Messiah

1
C14: from Old French Messie, ultimately from Hebrew māshīach anointed

Derived forms of Messiah

  • Messiahship, noun

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

Cultural definitions for Messiah (1 of 3)

Messiah

[ (muh-seye-uh) ]


For Jews (see also Jews) and Christians (see also Christian), the promised “anointed one” or Christ; the Savior. Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah who delivered mankind from its sins. Jews believe that the Messiah has not yet come.

Messiah

[ (muh-seye-uh) ]


In Judaism and Christianity, the promised “anointed one” or Christ; the Savior. Christians (see also Christian) believe that Jesus was the Messiah who delivered mankind from original sin (see also original sin). Jews (see also Jews) believe that the Messiah has not yet come.

Messiah

[ (muh-seye-uh) ]


An oratorio by George Frederick Handel on the life of Jesus. Written for solo singers, chorus, and orchestra, it contains the “Hallelujah Chorus.” In the United States, it is often sung during the Christmas season.

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.