Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » Messiah

Messiah

Listen See in Thesaurus

The definition of a messiah is a savior or leader for some cause.

(noun)

An example of the Messiah is Jesus Christ.
An example of a messiah is a savior who will come and deliver the Jewish people from persecution.
An example of amessiah is political leader who the conservatives believe is the answer to all of the world's problems.

See Messiah in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

Judaism the promised and expected deliverer of the Jews, who will bring an era of peace and justice
Christianity Jesus, regarded as the realization of the prophecy that the Messiah would come, and hence called the Christ
any expected savior or liberator of a people or country

Also, for senses 1 & 2, Messias

Origin: used by the Geneva translators (1560) for LL(Ec) Messias & ME Messie, both (ME via OFr < LL) < Gr(Ec) Messias < Aram měshīḥā, Heb māshīaḥ, lit., anointed

Related Forms:

Messiahship noun
Messianic adjective or messianic
messianism noun

See Messiah in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

also Mes·si·as (mĭ-sīˈəs) The anticipated savior of the Jews.
also Messias Christianity Jesus.
messiah One who is anticipated as, regarded as, or professes to be a savior or liberator.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English Messias, Messie

Origin: , from Old French Messie

Origin: , from Late Latin Messīās

Origin: , from Greek

Origin: , from Aramaic məšiḥā, the anointed one (from məšaḥ, to anoint)

Origin: or Hebrew māšîaḥ, anointed (from māšaḥ, to anoint); see mšḥ in Semitic roots

Learn more about Messiah

Messiah synonyms

Messiah Culture

link/cite print suggestion box