saint

noun

\ ˈsānt

, before a name (ˌ)sānt or sənt\

Definition of saint

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : one officially recognized especially through canonization as preeminent for holiness —abbreviation St.

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

b : angel sense 1a

3a : 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

saint

verb

\ ˈsānt

sainted; sainting; saints

Definition of saint (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to recognize or designate as a saint specifically : canonize

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Examples of saint in a Sentence

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The Irish around the world will mark the anniversary of Patrick’s death this weekend with parades, concerts, poetry readings and lectures, only some of which will bear any relation to the saint’s life and work. — Terry Golway, WSJ, "‘Saint Patrick Retold’ Review: The Patron Saint of Ireland," 14 Mar. 2019 Taft’s successor, Woodrow Wilson, would have slid beneath the waters—a saint of gothic countenance. — Lance Morrow, WSJ, "Did Chivalry Go Down With the Titanic?," 14 Dec. 2018 During the 16th century, European tales of Saint Nicholas transformed him into Father Christmas, a saint who gave gifts to children. — Chanel Vargas, Town & Country, "Santa Claus's Tomb May Have Just Been Discovered Under a Church in Turkey," 4 Oct. 2017 In the current case, the anonymous senior and self-canonized saint in the White House seems to be involved in some other game, more partisan, complex and craven. — Lance Morrow, WSJ, "Trump, Mrs. Wilson and That ‘Senior Official’," 6 Sep. 2018 In 2013, Pope Francis cleared two of the 20th Century’s most influential popes to become saints in the Roman Catholic church, approving a miracle needed to canonize Pope John Paul II and waiving Vatican rules to honor Pope John XXIII. — BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 5 July 2018 Even so, the great saint’s famous hedge to the Almighty on chastity echoes the North Korean leader’s plea to Donald Trump in Hanoi: Mr. President, help me give up my nuclear weapons—but not yet. — William Mcgurn, WSJ, "About Trump’s ‘Failure’ in Hanoi," 4 Mar. 2019 Many countries celebrate the saint as well as the longest day of the year during their solstice celebrations. — Caroline Simon, USA TODAY, "The Summer Solstice isn't just about weather - it's also about romance," 21 June 2018 Make Terry Crews The Bachelor, but don't because he's been married to Rebecca (an actual saint) for 29 years and honestly, that's amazing. — Amanda Mitchell, Marie Claire, "An Ode to the Glasses of This Week's Episode of 'The Bachelor'," 22 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

In 2000, Nicholas, his wife, and children were sainted by the Russian Orthodox church. — Nancy Bilyeau, Town & Country, "Will the Real Anastasia Romanov Please Stand Up?," 25 Apr. 2017 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

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.