Agnus Dei

noun

Ag·​nus Dei ˌäg-ˌnu̇s-ˈdā(-ˌē) 

-ˌnüs-;

ˌän-yu̇s-;

ˌag-nəs-

1

: a liturgical prayer addressed to Christ as Savior

2

: an image of a lamb often with a halo and a banner and cross used as a symbol of Christ

Illustration of Agnus Dei

• Agnus Dei 2

Examples of Agnus Dei in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eighty or more minutes later at the end of the Agnus Dei, when the great plea for peace reaches its ultimate transcendence, up becomes, in one of the most profoundly unsettling moments in all music, down again. —Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026

While the exterior is technically complete, there's still work to be done over the next eight years in the church, including decorative elements, the cladding on the arms of the cross, and sculptures – including the Agnus Dei, or the Lamb of God. —New Atlas, 23 Feb. 2026

Sheep appear in folklore, religion, and mythology from all over the world: the Greek golden fleece, the Jewish shofar, the Egyptian Pharaoh’s shepherd’s crook, Christianity’s Agnus Dei. —Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2025

The choir begins to sing Agnus Dei as the Archbishop performs the Holy Communion. —Maria Mercedes Lara, Peoplemag, 6 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin Agnus Deī "lamb of God," translation of Greek Amnòs toû Theoû; from its opening words

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1