Christian

¹

[kris-chuhn]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings.

   a Christian faith.

2. of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

   Spain is a Christian country.

3. of or relating to Christians.

   many Christian deaths in the Crusades.

4. exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ; Christlike.

   She displayed true Christian charity.

5. Sometimes Offensive.,  decent; respectable.

   They gave him a good Christian burial.

6. Sometimes Offensive.,  human; not brutal; humane.

   Such behavior isn't Christian.

noun

1. a person who believes in Jesus Christ; adherent of Christianity.

2. a person who exemplifies in their life the teachings of Christ.

   He died like a true Christian.

3. a member of any of certain Protestant churches, as the Disciples of Christ and the Plymouth Brethren.

4. the hero of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.

5. a male given name.

Christian

²

[kris-chuhn]

noun

1. Charlie, 1916–42, U.S. jazz guitarist.

Christian

¹

/ ˈkrɪstʃən /

noun

1. 1. a person who believes in and follows Jesus Christ

   2. a member of a Christian Church or denomination

2. informal,  a person who possesses Christian virtues, esp practical ones

adjective

1. of, relating to, or derived from Jesus Christ, his teachings, example, or his followers

2. (sometimes not capital) exhibiting kindness or goodness

Christian

²

/ ˈkrɪstʃən /

noun

1. Charlie. 1919–42, US jazz guitarist

Christian

¹

1. A follower or disciple of Jesus; someone who believes Jesus is the Christ or Messiah. The New Testament mentions that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians within a few years after his death.

Christian

²

1. A follower of Jesus and his teachings. Christian is also a descriptive term for the institutions and practices of Christianity.

Other Word Forms

• Christianly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Christian¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin Chrīstiānus, from Greek Chrīstiānós, equivalent to Chrīst(ós) Christ + -iānos, from Latin -iānus -ian; replacing Middle English, Old English cristen from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

While acknowledging her mother's influence and thanking her for not forcing her into a white-collar job, as a devout Christian she also feels that God had a role.

From BBC

The conservative opposition Christian Democrats had long been expected to lend their support, but several members of former prime minister Igor Matovic's Slovakia movement added their votes at the last minute, tipping the scales.

From BBC

“I don’t know! I think it’s the same with all Christians,” I said.

From Los Angeles Times

Fellow congregants at Jaramillo’s longtime church, Good Shepherd Fellowship in Pueblo, regularly asked him to perform Christian songs — a favorite was “The Blood That Jesus Shed for Me” by gospel pioneer Andraé Crouch.

From Los Angeles Times

The evangelical Christian also insisted Muslim immigration is a threat to the culture of the UK, and warned criticising people for using words like "invasion" in relation to migrants was shutting down "legitimate concerns".

From BBC