noun
Uncommon
messiah
muh-SEYE-uh
Messiah (noun) means In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, a promised savior or deliverer sent by God; in Christianity, specifically Jesus Christ. Example: “Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah foretold in Hebrew scripture.”
noun
1
In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, a promised savior or deliverer sent by God; in Christianity, specifically Jesus Christ.
"Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah foretold in Hebrew scripture."
"Jewish tradition still awaits the coming of the Messiah."
"Many hymns sung at Christmas celebrate the birth of the Messiah."
2
By extension, any figure seen as a great savior or liberator of a group.
"Fans hailed the new coach as the team’s messiah after just one winning season."
"Some villagers treated the engineer as a messiah when he brought clean water to the town."
"The struggling company hoped a new boss would be its messiah, but things stayed difficult."
How to use messiah
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA promised savior figure — used religiously, or loosely for anyone seen as a hero who will fix everything.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
the promised messiah
hailed as a messiah
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Word forms
- Plural
- messiahs
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Christians believe Jesus is the _____ foretold in Hebrew scripture.
Etymology
From Hebrew mashiach ("anointed one"), via Aramaic, Greek, and Latin, into Middle English "Messyas".
Related words
Rhymes for messiah
See all rhymes for messiah →Frequently asked questions
What does “messiah” mean?
The word “messiah” means in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, a promised savior or deliverer sent by God; in Christianity, specifically Jesus Christ. In plain terms, a promised savior figure — used religiously, or loosely for anyone seen as a hero who will fix everything.
How do you pronounce “messiah”?
“Messiah” is pronounced muh-SEYE-uh (/məˈsaɪ.ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “messiah” in a sentence?
Here is “messiah” used in a sentence: “Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah foretold in Hebrew scripture.”
What part of speech is “messiah”?
“Messiah” is a noun.
Where does the word “messiah” come from?
The word “messiah” comes from Latin. From Hebrew mashiach ("anointed one"), via Aramaic, Greek, and Latin, into Middle English "Messyas".
Is “messiah” a common word?
“Messiah” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “messiah” have?
“Messiah” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, a promised savior or deliverer sent by God; in Christianity, specifically Jesus Christ.
What is the difference between "Messiah" and "Christ"?
Both terms refer to a promised savior figure, but "Messiah" is the broader term used across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam for a savior sent by God, while "Christ" is specifically the Christian title identifying Jesus as that Messiah. In Christian usage the two are treated as equivalent when applied to Jesus.
Why is "Messiah" sometimes capitalized and sometimes not?
"Messiah" is capitalized when it refers to the specific religious figure recognized in Judaism, Christianity, or Islam, but it is often lowercased when used in its extended, figurative sense for any person seen as a great savior or liberator of a group.
Can "messiah" be used to describe someone who is not a religious figure?
Yes, by extension "messiah" is used figuratively for any person regarded as a great savior or liberator of a group, even outside a strictly religious context.
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