Christ
10 synonyms for Christ, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The title given to Jesus of Nazareth as the promised messiah in Christian belief.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
From Latin Christus, from Ancient Greek Khristós ("the anointed one"), itself a translation of the Hebrew word behind "messiah."
Full origin of Christ →Frequently asked questions
What does “Christ” mean?
The word “Christ” means the title given to Jesus of Nazareth as the promised messiah in Christian belief. In plain terms, the religious title for Jesus, or (lower-case in speech) a strong exclamation.
How do you pronounce “Christ”?
“Christ” is pronounced kryst (/kɹaɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “Christ” in a sentence?
Here is “Christ” used in a sentence: “Christians believe Christ rose from the dead.”
What part of speech is “Christ”?
Depending on how it is used, “Christ” can be a noun and an interjection.
Where does the word “Christ” come from?
The word “Christ” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin Christus, from Ancient Greek Khristós ("the anointed one"), itself a translation of the Hebrew word behind "messiah.".
Is “Christ” a common word?
“Christ” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Christ” have?
“Christ” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the title given to Jesus of Nazareth as the promised messiah in Christian belief.
What is the difference between Jesus and Christ?
'Jesus' is a personal name — the man Jesus of Nazareth — while 'Christ' is a title meaning the promised saviour, or messiah. So 'Jesus Christ' is not a first and last name but a name followed by a claim: Jesus who is the Christ. Christ was never a surname.
What does the word 'Christ' mean?
'Christ' comes from the Greek 'Christos', meaning 'the anointed one'. It translates the Hebrew word 'Messiah'. In Christian belief, it marks Jesus as the long-awaited saviour foretold in scripture, chosen and set apart by God. The word is therefore a title of honour rather than an ordinary name.
Is 'Christ' the same as the Messiah?
Yes — 'Christ' is essentially the Greek translation of 'Messiah', the Hebrew term for the promised deliverer. Both mean 'the anointed one'. Christians hold that Jesus fulfils this role, which is why he is called Christ. Jewish tradition still awaits the Messiah, so the two faiths use the term differently.
