sainthood

noun

saint·​hood ˈsānt-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce sainthood (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being a saint
2
: saints as a group

Examples of sainthood in a Sentence

because of his years of dedicated service to the church, they considered him a perfect example of sainthood
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sainthood ceremony of Carlo Acutis, a scheduled highlight of this Jubilee of Teenagers, was postponed. John Bacon, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025 That dropped to just over 100 years during the last three papacies, in part because John Paul II shortened the waiting period to begin a cause for sainthood, as the process is known, to five years after a person’s death. Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025 One likely effect of the rush to it is that Pope Francis won’t be taken up for sainthood anytime soon. Paul Elie, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025 From the hospital, the pontiff has still been making decisions such as calling a meeting of pope and cardinals to decide sainthood causes at an unspecified date. Christopher Lamb, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sainthood

Word History

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sainthood was in 1550

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Cite this Entry

“Sainthood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sainthood. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

sainthood

noun
saint·​hood ˈsānt-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce sainthood (audio)
1
: the quality or state of being a saint
2
: saints as a group

More from Merriam-Webster on sainthood

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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