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Messiah

American  
[mi-sahy-uh] / mɪˈsaɪ ə /
Douay Bible, Messias

noun

  1. the Messiah, the promised and expected deliverer of the Jewish people.

  2. the Messiah, Jesus Christ, regarded by Christians as fulfilling the Old Testament promise and expectation of a deliverer.

  3. Usually messiah any expected deliverer or savior.

    Despite the promise and potential that his election represents, we have to accept that our desire for a messiah to bring us sweeping change is not realistic.

  4. Usually messiah a zealous leader of some cause or project.

    She was a charismatic, powerful messiah who led her party to numerous political victories.

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

Messiah British  
/ 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

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

"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
Messiah 1 Cultural  

  1. 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 2 Cultural  

  1. 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 3 Cultural  

  1. 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.

Other Word Forms

  • Messiahship noun
  • Messianic adjective
  • Messianically adverb
  • pre-Messianic adjective
  • pseudo-Messianic adjective

Etymology

Origin of Messiah

First recorded before 900; 1660–70 Messiah for def. 4; from Late Latin Messīās, from Greek Messī́ās, from Aramaic mĕshîkha, from Hebrew māshîakh, literally, “anointed,” from māshakh “to anoint”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nundu carried a framed photo of Baba Simeo Melchior -- the so-called "Black Messiah" -- who eyes the camera with his hands clasped and a large medallion around his neck.

From Barron's • Dec. 25, 2025

Villeneuve is expected to start shooting Dune Messiah, the third movie of the Dune franchise, later this year with a potential release date in 2026.

From BBC • Jun. 25, 2025

"Many people are calling me the Messiah," he said.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2025

“He’s not the Messiah, nor do we see him in that light,” Mr. Demastus said.

From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2024

Its aims were clear: no Jewish homeland without the Torah at its center; therefore, no Jewish homeland until the coming of the Messiah.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.