Christian

UK: /ˈkrɪstʃən/ US: /ˈkrɪstʃən/ ,(kris′chən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

Chris•tian /ˈkrɪstʃən/   adj. 

1. Religion of, relating to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings:
   Christian ideals.
2. Religion of, relating to, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ:
   a southern Christian church.
3. Religion exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ:
   a Christian attitude toward her enemies.

n. [countable]

4. Religion a person who professes belief in Jesus Christ;
   an adherent of Christianity.
5. Religion a person who exemplifies the teachings of Christ:
   a real Christian to us in our time of need.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Chris•tian  (kris′chən), adj. 

1. Religion of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings:
   a Christian faith.
2. Religion of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ:
   Spain is a Christian country.
3. Religion of or pertaining to Christians:
   many Christian deaths in the Crusades.
4. Religion exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ;
   Christlike:
   She displayed true Christian charity.
5. decent;
   respectable:
   They gave him a good Christian burial.
6. human;
   not brutal;
   humane:
   Such behavior isn't Christian.

n. 

7. Religion a person who believes in Jesus Christ;
   adherent of Christianity.
8. Religion a person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings of Christ:
   He died like a true Christian.
9. Religion a member of any of certain Protestant churches, as the Disciples of Christ and the Plymouth Brethren.
10. Literature the hero of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.
11. a male given name.

• Latin, as above
• Latin -iānus -ian; replacing Middle English, Old English cristen
• Greek Chrīstiānós, equivalent. to Chrīst(ós) Christ + -iānos
• Latin Chrīstiānus
• 1250–1300

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Christian / ˈkrɪstʃən/ noun

1. a person who believes in and follows Jesus Christ
2. a member of a Christian Church or denomination
3. a person who possesses Christian virtues, esp practical ones

adjective

1. of, relating to, or derived from Jesus Christ, his teachings, example, or his followers
2. (sometimes not capital) exhibiting kindness or goodness

ˈChristianly adjective , adverb

Christian / ˈkrɪstʃən/ noun

1. Charlie. 1919–42, US jazz guitarist