noun
Uncommon
crusade
kroo-SAYD
Crusade (noun) means one of the medieval religious wars fought by European Christians, mainly to try to take the Holy Land from Muslim rule. Example: “The First Crusade set out in 1096 and eventually captured Jerusalem.”
noun
1
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."
2
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."
"The headteacher started a crusade to get every child eating healthy lunches."
verb
1
To campaign energetically for a cause.
"He has crusaded for animal rights for over twenty years."
"She crusaded against litter until every street in the village was clean."
"Local parents are crusading for a safe crossing outside the school."
How to use crusade
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- crusades
- Third person singular
- crusades
- Past tense
- crusaded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for crusade
See all rhymes for crusade →Frequently asked questions
What does “crusade” mean?
The word “crusade” means one of the medieval religious wars fought by European Christians, mainly to try to take the Holy Land from Muslim rule. In plain terms, historically, a medieval religious war; today, usually a passionate, long-running campaign for a cause.
How do you pronounce “crusade”?
“Crusade” is pronounced kroo-SAYD (/kɹuˈseɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “crusade” in a sentence?
Here is “crusade” used in a sentence: “The First Crusade set out in 1096 and eventually captured Jerusalem.”
What part of speech is “crusade”?
Depending on how it is used, “crusade” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “crusade” come from?
The word “crusade” comes from Latin. 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.
Is “crusade” a common word?
“Crusade” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “crusade” have?
“Crusade” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the medieval religious wars fought by European Christians, mainly to try to take the Holy Land from Muslim rule.
What is the difference between a crusade and a campaign?
A campaign is any organized effort toward a goal, while a crusade implies a stronger moral or ideological conviction behind that effort. Crusade also carries a specific historical sense referring to the medieval religious wars fought by European Christians to reclaim the Holy Land.
Can crusade be used as a verb?
Yes, crusade functions as a verb meaning to campaign energetically for a cause, as in "she crusaded for years to protect the local wetlands." This verb form is common in journalism and biography when describing sustained activism.
Is crusade always used in a religious sense today?
No, modern usage of crusade usually refers to a determined, sustained campaign in support of a cause someone believes is important, without any religious connotation. The historical religious wars are still the term's origin, but phrases like "anti-litter crusade" show its broadened, secular use.
