Christian

1 of 2

noun

Chris·​tian ˈkris-chən How to pronounce Christian (audio)
ˈkrish-
1
a
: one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ
(2)
: a member of one of the Churches of Christ separating from the Disciples of Christ in 1906
(3)
: a member of the Christian denomination having part in the union of the United Church of Christ concluded in 1961
2
: the hero in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Christian

2 of 2

adjective

1
a
: of or relating to Christianity
Christian scriptures
b
: based on or conforming with Christianity
Christian ethics
2
a
: of, relating to, or being a Christian
Christian responsibilities
b
: professing Christianity
a Christian affirmation
a Christian country
3
: treating other people in a kind or generous way
has a very Christian concern for others
Christianly adjective or adverb

Examples of Christian in a Sentence

Adjective Many of my friends are Christian. He showed a very Christian concern for others.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The view here: In the defense of Grier and other Dolphins officials involved in these picks, the organization has made several excellent draft selections on defense — Howard, Christian Wilkins, Phillips, Holland, Jerome Baker and Andrew Van Ginkel, among others. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2024 He’s collaborated with and written for artists such as Christian Nodal, Carin León, Grupo Firme and Banda MS, to name a few. Griselda Flores, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2024 Maisie Williams revamped French fashion designer Christian Dior's signature silhouette. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024 But a group of the folks who made Wunderlist in the first place, led by co-founder Christian Reber, set out to bring its spirit back to life. David Pierce, The Verge, 13 Feb. 2024 Coaches awarded running back Christian McCaffrey the Bill Walsh Award. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2024 Following the incident, authorities managed to retrieve 10 pairs of Versace glasses, two pairs of Prada glasses, and one pair of Christian Dior glasses. Luke Gentile, Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2024 Maya Layton, Faith Christian The sophomore dropped 39 points, including a ¾-court shot, against FW Northrop to become the program's all-time leading scorer with 922 career points. Brian Haenchen, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Jan. 2024 Patent leather boots by Christian Louboutin completed the look. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 8 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Its pastors preach a different approach to spiritual life, one that’s plain to see this time of year, during the holiest days on the Christian calendar. Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024 Other brands that continue to keep the tapestry of this connection going, like Selah Clothing, showcase the conjunction of modern-day fashion with Christian motifs throughout their products. Cordell Jones, Essence, 20 Mar. 2024 Early on, Jacobs’s music even welcomes Christian rock into the soundscape, mixing it with American folk and brassy pop. Brittani Samuel, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 More:Could evangelical Christian women hold the key to compromise on immigration reform? Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024 On the Gregorian calendar, used by most Christian denominations, Easter typically falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Mar. 2024 This bio-pic (the first of Dumont’s two films about the doomed and sainted warrior) externalizes the wild subjectivity of her religious devotion in the form of a rock opera, based on plays by the Christian mystic poet Charles Péguy (1871–1914). Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024 Waiting for the just and deserved Christian reward at the end of it all. CBS News, 17 Mar. 2024 Other prominent Christian conservatives joined her in expressing their disgust. Ruth Graham, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Christian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Latin christianus, adjective & noun, from Greek christianos, from Christos — see Christ

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Time Traveler
The first known use of Christian was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near Christian

Cite this Entry

“Christian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Christian. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Christian

1 of 2 noun
Chris·​tian ˈkris-chən How to pronounce Christian (audio)
ˈkrish-
1
: a person who believes in Jesus Christ and follows his teachings
2
: a member of a Christian church

Christian

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of or relating to Jesus Christ or the religion based on his teachings
2
: of or relating to Christians
a Christian nation
3
: being what a Christian should be or do
Christian behavior

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