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. ChristianCharlie19191942MUSMUSIC: jazz guitarist Charlie. 1919–42, US jazz guitarist

Christian

¹

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

Christian

²

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.

Derived Forms

• ˈChristianly, adjectiveadverb

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

I wrote about him back in June, concerned that the self-described Christian nationalist was going to wind up in an important position in a possible Trump administration.

From Salon

“I was shocked when the Vatican raised their flag and opposed the human rights language,” said Sostina Takure, from Christian charity ACT Alliance.

From BBC

Along the way, Murray, who is a practicing Christian, discovered the name Luke means “light.”

From Los Angeles Times

One of the most alluring aspects of Trumpism to Christian conservatives is his vision of masculine power unchecked by accountability.

From Salon

Huckabee is an evangelical Christian who has questioned any Palestinian claim to the land.

From Los Angeles Times