messiah

IPA/məˈsaɪ.ə/
KK[məsˈaɪə]IPA/məˈsaɪ.ə/

messiah — noun

  • messiahsingular
  • messiahsplural

1. a person whom others trust to rescue a country, group, or society by fixing its

1.nounC2
Definition

a person whom others trust to rescue a country, group, or society by fixing its biggest troubles.

Example

Some voters treated the new mayor like a messiah after the flood.

like a messiah = expected savior leader

Investors hoped the young CEO would be the messiah of the company.

be the messiah of [group]

Common collocations
  • political messiah
  • economic messiah
  • hailed as a messiah
  • see someone as a messiah
Synonyms
  • saviour

    stronger and often more emotional or religious than messiah

  • hero

    can describe someone admired for one action, not a leader expected to transform everything

  • miracle worker

    more informal and stresses surprising success

Usage Note

Usually used figuratively for a leader people expect to fix a serious crisis. It often suggests unrealistic hope or pressure rather than calm judgment.

2. for Christians, this title refers to Jesus as God's chosen savior.

2.nounC2
Definition

for Christians, this title refers to Jesus as God's chosen savior.

Example

At church, Michael heard the pastor call Jesus the promised Messiah.

the Messiah = title for Jesus in Christian belief

The hymn says the Messiah brings hope to people in darkness.

Common collocations
  • the promised Messiah
  • believe in the Messiah
  • the Messiah came
Synonyms
  • Christ

    the standard Christian title for Jesus in this sense

  • Savior

    focuses on Jesus's saving role rather than the specific title Messiah

Usage Note

Usually written with a capital M in Christian writing. This sense names Jesus specifically, unlike sense 1, which is figurative, and sense 3, which refers to the expected future ruler in Judaism.

3. in Judaism, the future ruler whom Jews expect God to choose for their people's r

3.nounC2
Definition

in Judaism, the future ruler whom Jews expect God to choose for their people's rescue and renewal.

Example

The teacher explained that Jews still await the Messiah.

await the Messiah

In the story, the old man prayed for the Messiah to come.

Common collocations
  • await the Messiah
  • the promised Messiah
  • belief in the Messiah
Synonyms
  • deliverer

    a broader word for someone who saves others; it is less tied to Jewish belief

  • redeemer

    more literary and often shared across different religious traditions

Usage Note

Usually written with a capital M in religious discussion. Unlike sense 2, this sense refers to the expected future ruler in Judaism, not Jesus.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all suggest help or rescue, but they work in different ways. A messiah is usually someone people expect to solve very large problems for a group, country, or cause, so the word often carries grand hope and sometimes criticism. A saviour can be used for one person who rescues someone in danger, and it also has a strong religious tone. A hero is broader and more everyday: a hero may do one brave thing without being seen as the answer to every problem. Redeemer is the most literary of the group and often appears in religious or emotional writing rather than ordinary news or political talk.

saviourhero ↗redeemer

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • hailed as a messiah
  • see someone as a messiah
  • the promised Messiah
  • await the Messiah

Prepositions

Etymology

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a