messianic
Britishadjective
-
(sometimes capital) Bible
-
of or relating to the Messiah, his awaited deliverance of the Jews, or the new age of peace expected to follow this
-
of or relating to Jesus Christ or the salvation believed to have been brought by him
-
-
-
of or relating to any popular leader promising deliverance or an ideal era of peace and prosperity
-
of or relating to promises of this kind or to an ideal era of this kind
-
Other Word Forms
Explanation
Use the adjective messianic to describe something that has to do with a messiah, or savior, especially a religious one. In Judaism, a messianic figure is predicted to appear in the future, and in Christianity that messianic role is filled by Jesus Christ. You can also describe a more earthbound savior as messianic — you might say that after a long, hot soccer match, your mom's arrival with a cooler full of water bottles seems almost messianic. The adjective comes from the noun messiah, which has an Aramic root, meshiha, or "the anointed of the Lord."
Vocabulary lists containing messianic
This Week In Words: February 22–28, 2020
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Friday Night Lights
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
10 Words to Use When Talking About Sexism in Hollywood
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
In South Africa, Isaiah Shembe's followers say he received orders from God in 1913 to found the Nazareth Baptist Church, and many view him as a messianic figure.
From Barron's ● Dec. 25, 2025
Freston’s unusual and messianic marketing department got megastars like David Bowie and Mick Jagger to scream, “I Want My MTV!”—a campaign designed to strong-arm cable systems into carrying the fledgling station.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2025
Since “The Empire Strikes Back,” the movies have swung between messianic heroism and a more accommodating vision of how revolutions really happen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2025
When, in preparation for this interview, I spoke to over a dozen people who know him well, including former prime ministers, the word they most frequently attached to him was "messianic".
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2024
Trueba realized that they had messianic plans that did not include the politicians.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
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.
