saint

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noun \ ˈsānt , before a name (ˌ)sānt or sənt \

Definition of saint

1 :one officially recognized especially through canonization as preeminent for holiness

2 a :one of the spirits of the departed in heaven

b :angel 1a

3 a :one of God's chosen and usually Christian people

b capitalized :a member of any of various Christian bodies; specifically :latter-day saint

4 :one eminent for piety or virtue

5 :an illustrious predecessor

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saintdom

play \ˈsānt-dəm\ noun

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saintlike

play \ˈsānt-ˌlīk\ adjective

See saint defined for English-language learners

See saint defined for kids

Examples of saint in a Sentence

He was declared a saint in the fifth century.
The salesperson was a saint for putting up with them.

Recent Examples of saint from the Web

No figure in Congress, save former deficit saint Paul Ryan, played as important a role in fomenting deficit hysteria in the Obama era as Judd Gregg.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "The Obama-Era Deficit Scolds Want Big Tax Cuts Now," 24 Aug. 2017
There are so many things Obama did wrong, Trump looks like a saint by comparison.

— christopher rosen, EW.com, "Donald Trump looked at the eclipse without glasses," 21 Aug. 2017
Leaders at All Saints church hope that the film will show that welcoming refugees can be a blessing in disguise.

— bob smietana, Washington Post, "How a group of refugees saved a church on the brink of collapsing," 18 Aug. 2017
To become canonized, potential saints need to show proof of at least two miracles.

— marissa payne, chicagotribune.com, "After July 'miracle,' Pope Francis reportedly moves Roberto Clemente closer to sainthood," 17 Aug. 2017
Yet his birthplace has not forgotten the left’s warrior-saint.

— The Economist, "Challenging the cult of Che Guevara," 20 July 2017
Next, all the teachers at Boston Arts Academy were my patron saints.

— Teen Vogue, "DeRay Mckesson and Diane Guerrero Share What Public Education Means to Them," 10 July 2017
Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan (Knopf, May 9) The author of Maine unspools the story of two sisters who sail from 1950s Ireland for Boston, where their paths unexpectedly and completely diverge.

— cnt editors, CNT, "Summer Reads 2017: Books to Read on a Plane," 4 July 2017
Thomas More is a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.

— william mcgurn, WSJ, "A Woman for All Seasons," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'saint.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of saint

Middle English, from Anglo-French seint, saint, from Late Latin sanctus, from Latin, sacred, from past participle of sancire to make sacred — more at sacred

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

saint

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verb \ ˈsānt \

Definition of saint

transitive verb

:to recognize or designate as a saint; specifically :canonize

Recent Examples of saint from the Web

Feed My Starving Children is to be sainted for its work — people working to feed people.

— sainted & tainted writers, Twin Cities, "Sainted: Christian, Muslim, Jewish … people working to feed people," 17 June 2017
MOUNT SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY, Los Angeles Jocelin Mata, Santa Ana High School Major: nursing, $ Why this school?

— heide janssen, Orange County Register, "Where are 2017 Orange County dance students going to college?," 15 June 2017
The average number of carries in a season for a lead Saints back is roughly half (175) the total Peterson was used to getting in Minnesota.

— jeff duncan, NOLA.com, "1,500 yards? 10 TDs? Adrian Peterson's 'incentives' are a joke," 19 May 2017

First Known Use of saint

13th century

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

SAINT Defined for English Language Learners

saint

play

noun

Definition of saint for English Language Learners

: a person who is officially recognized by the Christian church as being very holy because of the way he or she lived
: a person who is very good, kind, or patient