noun

crusade

kroo-SAYD

noun

One of the medieval religious wars fought by European Christians, mainly to try to take the Holy Land from Muslim rule.

"The First Crusade set out in 1096 and eventually captured Jerusalem."

A determined, sustained campaign in support of a cause someone believes is important.

"She led a crusade against plastic waste in her local town."

"The journalist began a personal crusade to expose corruption in the council."

verb

To campaign energetically for a cause.

"He has crusaded for animal rights for over twenty years."

How to Use Crusade

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHistorically, a medieval religious war; today, usually a passionate, long-running campaign for a cause.

Common mistake

Using "crusade" carelessly about religious or cultural conflicts can sound insensitive given its history — in modern writing it is mostly used for campaigns like anti-corruption or environmental crusades.

Common pairings

crusade against crusade for go on a crusade

Word Forms

crusaded past tense, crusades plural, Crusades plural, crusades singular

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Fill the Gap

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The First _____ set out in 1096 and eventually captured Jerusalem.

Etymology

From French croisade, ultimately from Latin cruciata ("marked with a cross"), tied to the crusaders' practice of wearing a cross as a symbol of their cause.

Rhymes for crusade

Ade made jade wade fade sade Bade Cade Dade trade blade spade

See all rhymes for crusade →