Definition of "saint" in English

noun

1. (religion, generally) A deceased person whom a church or another religious group has officially recognised as especially holy or godly; one eminent for piety and virtue.

   • The Roman Catholic Church proclaimed Kateri Tekakwitha a saint in 2012.

2. (Christianity) One of the blessed in heaven.

3. (Christianity) A Christian; a faithful believer in the present world.

4. (Mormonism, specifically) Alternative letter-case form of Saint (“a Mormon, a Latter-day Saint”).

5. (figuratively, by extension) A person with similarly overwhelming positive qualities; one who does good.

   • Dorothy Day was a living saint.
   • Thanks for looking after the house while I'm away. You're a saint!

6. (archaic) A holy object.

verb

1. (transitive) Synonym of canonize: to honor, formally name, or revere as a saint.

   • Many Catholics wished to see Pope John Paul II sainted immediately after his death.

prefix

1. (toponymy) Capitalized and placed before another term, particularly personal names, to create placename without direct association to any religious character.