Crusade

Quick meaning: Crusade is a noun meaning (figuratively, sometimes ironically) A grand, concerted effort towards some purportedly worthy cause.

Meaning

(figuratively, sometimes ironically) A grand, concerted effort towards some purportedly worthy cause.

More Meanings

1. (politics, Protestantism, dated) A mass gathering in a political campaign or during a religious revival effort.
2. (intransitive) To go on a military crusade.
3. (intransitive) To make a grand concerted effort toward some purportedly worthy cause.
4. Any war instigated and blessed by the Church for alleged religious ends, (especially) papal-sanctioned military campaigns against infidels or heretics.
5. (archaic) A Portuguese coin; a crusado.
6. (historical) Any of the Papally-endorsed military expeditions undertaken by the Christians of Latin Europe in the 11th to 13th centuries to reconquer the Levant from the Muslims, as well as expeditions along the Baltic Sea and against the Cathars.

Example Sentences

a crusade against drug abuse

He crusaded against similar injustices for the rest of his life.

During the crusades, many Muslims and Christians and Jews were slaughtered.

Their way lay through the hall, where hung the helm of many a bold forefather, and arms that had seen service even in the crusades.

Word Forms

• crusades
• crusading
• crusaded

Synonyms for crusade

Depending on context, synonyms include drive, push, cause, effort, movement, fight.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include campaign, cause, movement, drive, push, effort.

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