Joseph of Arimathea

noun phrase

Joseph of Ar·​i·​ma·​thea -ˌer-ə-mə-ˈthē-ə How to pronounce Joseph of Arimathea (audio)
-ˌa-rə-
: a rich councillor of the Sanhedrin who according to the Gospel accounts placed the body of Jesus in his own tomb and according to medieval legend took the Holy Grail to England

Examples of Joseph of Arimathea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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And then the English joined in, claiming that Joseph of Arimathea brought the holy grail containing the blood and sweat of the crucified Christ to Glastonbury. JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025 This is his unquestioned masterpiece: seven life-size figures—the body of Jesus; the kneeling Nicodemus (or, some say, Joseph of Arimathea); St. John, who tries and fails not to weep; and four Marys. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025 The walrus tusk ivory sculpture depicts Jesus Christ’s body being lifted from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea. Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 16 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Joseph of Arimathea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Joseph%20of%20Arimathea. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

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