pre-Christian

American  

[pree-kris-chuhn] / priˈkrɪs tʃən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to a time or period before the Christian Era.

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pre-Christian British  

adjective

1. of or referring to the period of history prior to the establishment of Christianity

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Etymology

Origin of pre-Christian

First recorded in 1820–30; pre- + Christian

Example Sentences

Krampus likely evolved from older, pre-Christian deities, just as Christmas absorbed solstice and midwinter customs, the author explained.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 25, 2025

"One example are neo-pagan groups, a religious and cultural current based on pre-Christian paganism whose followers see themselves as living Scandinavian paganism -- often in contrast to monotheistic religions such as Christianity."

From Science Daily • Nov. 23, 2025

The council said the scholar wrote that King Raedwald had a temple in which there were altars to pre-Christian gods alongside an altar to Christ, but did not specifically say that this was at Rendlesham.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2023

Why would Christian clergy accept pre-Christian images to decorate their churches?

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

Although many commoners converted to Christianity, they held on to many aspects of their pre-Christian life.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz