Anselm

American

[an-selm] / ˈæn sɛlm /

noun

Saint, 1033–1109, archbishop of Canterbury: scholastic theologian and philosopher.
Also Ansel a first name: from Germanic words meaning “divine” and “helmet.”

Anselm British

/ ˈænsɛlm /

noun

Saint. 1033–1109, Italian Benedictine monk; archbishop of Canterbury (1093–1109): one of the founders of scholasticism; author of Cur Deus Homo? ( Why did God become Man? ). Feast day: Aug 21

"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

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.

Therrien’s exploratory, artistic bird-flipping isn’t parody, like German artist Anselm Kiefer’s prickly self-portrait photographs raising a Hitler salute in front of ruined landscapes.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

A native of New Hampshire, Leavitt studied communications and political science at Saint Anselm College, a Catholic college in her home state.

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2024

Neil Levesque is the director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College, the site of Saturday’s event.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 30, 2024

Monday’s event, at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., will be a significant step for the embattled group.

From New York Times • Jul. 15, 2023

Today, Mort Janklow has an office high above Park Avenue filled with gorgeous works of modern art—a Dubuffet, an Anselm Kiefer.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

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