English Dictionary

Definition of “crusade

crusade (kruːˈseɪdPronunciation for crusade

Definitions

noun

  1. (often capital) any of the military expeditions undertaken in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries by the Christian powers of Europe to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims
  2. (formerly) any holy war undertaken on behalf of a religious cause
  3. a vigorous and dedicated action or movement in favour of a cause

verb (intr)

  1. to campaign vigorously for something
  2. to go on a crusade

Alternative Forms

cruˈsader noun

Word Origin

C16: from earlier croisade,  from Old French crois  cross, from Latin crux;  influenced also by Spanish cruzada,  from cruzar to take up the cross

Usage examples

  • Bring me back into the fold and then render me useless to watch the crusade trampled underfoot... under the feet of his corruption.
    Robert Wilson, A DARKENING STAIN (2002)
  • Setting up the NEO Information Centre was part of the government's crusade for transparency.
    Spiked (2003)
  • Mr. Denton's crusade apparently struck a chord among Kodak's shareholders.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • THE Sun's crusade to end stamp duty on share buying goes from strength to strength.
    Sun, News of the World (2000)
  • The Church can be cleansed, a new crusade can scour the world of sin.
    Bernard Cornwell, The Grail Quest (3) HERETIC (2004)

Browse dictionary