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• resurrection
  resurrection

  noun

  the act of rising from the dead.
• Resurrection
  Resurrection

  noun

  the rising again of Christ from the tomb three days after his death

resurrection

American  

[rez-uh-rek-shuhn] / ˌrɛz əˈrɛk ʃən /

noun

1. the act of rising from the dead.

2. Christianity. Resurrection, the rising of Christ after His death and burial.

3. Religion. Resurrection, the rising of the dead on Judgment Day.

4. the state of those risen from the dead.

5. a rising again, as from decay, disuse, etc.; revival.

6. Christian Science. a rising above mortality through the understanding of spiritual life as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.

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resurrection ¹ British  

/ ˌrɛzəˈrɛkʃən /

noun

1. a supposed act or instance of a dead person coming back to life

2. belief in the possibility of this as part of a religious or mystical system

3. the condition of those who have risen from the dead

   we shall all live in the resurrection

4. the revival of something

   a resurrection of an old story

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Resurrection ² British  

/ ˌrɛzəˈrɛkʃən /

noun

1. the rising again of Christ from the tomb three days after his death

2. the rising again from the dead of all mankind at the Last Judgment

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Resurrection Cultural  

1. The rising of Jesus from the tomb after his death; a central and distinctive belief of the Christian faith. The Gospels state that after Jesus was crucified and lay in a tomb between Friday evening and Sunday morning, he rose, in body as well as in spirit, and appeared alive to his followers. His resurrection is the basis for the Christian belief that not only Jesus but all Christians will triumph over death. Christians celebrate the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

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Other Word Forms

• nonresurrection
  noun
• postresurrection
  noun
• nonresurrectional
  adjective
• postresurrectional
  adjective
• resurrectional
  adjective
• resurrective
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of resurrection

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin resurrēctiōn-, stem of resurrēctiō, the Easter church festival, from resurrēct(us) “risen again” (past participle of resurgere “to rise again”; see resurge ( def. )) + -iō -ion ( def. )

Explanation

Resurrection describes something that has been brought back to life — literally or figuratively. A zombie resurrection may occur in that scary movie you're watching, or a fashion designer may bring about the resurrection of the a-line skirt. First used in the 13th century, the noun resurrection comes from the Latin word resurgere, meaning "rise again." It can refer literally to a rising from the dead, but you're more likely to hear the word describe something that's figuratively brought back to life — meaning, it's been revived after a time of inactivity or decline. If a pitcher who has been in a slump throws a perfect game, that could be considered a resurrection of his baseball career.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

resurrection Resurrection

The resurrection of that soda line also includes a zero-sugar version.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

The shape of Kelly’s resurrection holds clues about how much deeper it could go.

From Slate ● May 6, 2026

What makes Christianity work, and always has, is the gathering together of the faithful to worship in song and in recitation of ancient creeds affirming creation, sin, salvation, and the death and resurrection of Christ.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026

For Christians, Easter is the most important date in the liturgical calendar, marking the resurrection of Christ - a central tenet of the faith.

From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2026

There are horses and cows in my story even though the main point is supposed to be the story of the resurrection.

From "Brown Girl Dreaming" by Jacqueline Woodson

The 29-year-old Moncada is quickly learning the ways of Resurrection under the legendary Monsignor John Moretta, better known as Padre Juan.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026

Against this tense backdrop, Rome is preparing to welcome thousands of worshippers for the Easter celebrations, the most important feast in the Christian calendar, which commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

From Barron's ● Apr. 1, 2026

Kevin Hayes, a retired architect and member of Resurrection Parish in suburban Pittsburgh, said he was delighted to see an American pontiff.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 21, 2026

The scan has been studied for a new documentary by National Geographic and Atlantic Productions called Titanic: The Digital Resurrection.

From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2025

“Say the Cloak existed...what about the stone, Mr. Lovegood? The thing you call the Resurrection Stone?”

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

Related Words

• reappearance
• rebirth
• restoration
• resurgence
• revival