For Jews, the Messiah is the King of the Jews, who will be sent to them by God.
2. proper noun
For Christians, the Messiah is Jesus Christ.
3. countable noun
If you refer to someone as a messiah, you mean that they are expected to do wonderful things, especially to rescue people from a very difficult or dangerous situation, or that they are thought to have done these things.
People saw Mandela as their messiah.
He was somehow destined to become a rock messiah.
Messiah in British English
(mɪˈsaɪə)
noun
1. Judaism
the awaited redeemer of the Jews, to be sent by God to free them
2.
Jesus Christ, when regarded in this role
3.
an exceptional or hoped for liberator of a country or people
Derived forms
Messiahship (Mesˈsiahˌship)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French Messie, ultimately from Hebrew māshīach anointed
Messiah in American English
(məˈsaɪə)
noun
1. Judaism
the promised and expected deliverer of the Jews, who will bring an era of peace and justice
2. Christianity
Jesus, regarded as the realization of Messianic prophecies, and hence called the Christ
3. [m-]
any expected savior or liberator of a people or country
Also, for senses 1 & 2, Mesˈsias (məˈsaɪəs)
Derived forms
Messiahship (Mesˈsiahˌship)
noun
Messianic (ˌMessiˈanic) (ˌmɛsiˈænɪk)
adjective or messianic
messianism (mesˈsiaˌnism)
noun
Word 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
Examples of 'Messiah' in a sentence
Messiah
I bought him a tape of Handel's ` Messiah " for Christmas and he's been listening to it on his headphones all morning.
MacNeill, Alastair CODE BREAKER
And someday Elijah will perform his greatest task, and announce the coming of the Messiah.
Telushkin, Josef THE UNORTHODOX MURDER OF RABBI MOSS
My father made me sing soprano solo in Handel's Messiah before the days of my defection to rock'n'roll.
Weldon, Fay SPLITTING
Instead he went directly to the Town Hall and booked a seat for the next Thursday evening performance of `The Messiah.
Elliott, Sumner Locke FAIRYLAND (1990)
In other languages
messiah
British English: Messiah NOUN
For Jews, the Messiah is the King of the Jews, who will be sent to them by God.