pre-Christian
adjective
pre-Chris·tian
(ˌ)prē-ˈkris-chən 
-ˈkrish-
: of, relating to, or being a time before the beginning of the Christian era
Examples of pre-Christian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In Scotland and Ireland, there’s an understandably heavier Celtic influence upon it all, rooted in Samhain, the pre-Christian Gaelic festival between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice marking the harvest.
—
Guy Martin, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
All forms of contemporary Paganism look to pre-Christian European religions to inform their religious practice.
—Helen A. Berger, The Conversation, 7 Dec. 2023
Lighting and jumping over bonfires has been a way to mark the solstice since pre-Christian times, according to National Trust.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 19 June 2024
In the early 1200s, these stories were written down by Christian scholars into what became collections of Old Norse poetry and Sagas (Saga was the Norse goddess of history) set in pre-Christian Iceland.
—Kristina Lindborg, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 May 2024
Many of these festivals stem from pre-Christian pagan traditions in Europe, including Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Germanic cultures.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 26 Jan. 2024
Its evolution began in the pre-Christian era of Western Europe, when the Celtic world was the predominant cultural force in the region.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2024
Promiscuity of belief has been relatively normal for much of human history, as was evident in the pre-Christian Roman Empire, or is evident in Japan or China.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 28 Apr. 2010
For pre-Christian Romans, Africa, or at least the part of it along the Mediterranean that Rome had occupied, was not marginal, not a hinterland.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Guy Martin, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
All forms of contemporary Paganism look to pre-Christian European religions to inform their religious practice.
—Helen A. Berger, The Conversation, 7 Dec. 2023
Lighting and jumping over bonfires has been a way to mark the solstice since pre-Christian times, according to National Trust.
—Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 19 June 2024
In the early 1200s, these stories were written down by Christian scholars into what became collections of Old Norse poetry and Sagas (Saga was the Norse goddess of history) set in pre-Christian Iceland.
—Kristina Lindborg, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 May 2024
Many of these festivals stem from pre-Christian pagan traditions in Europe, including Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Germanic cultures.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 26 Jan. 2024
Its evolution began in the pre-Christian era of Western Europe, when the Celtic world was the predominant cultural force in the region.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2024
Promiscuity of belief has been relatively normal for much of human history, as was evident in the pre-Christian Roman Empire, or is evident in Japan or China.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 28 Apr. 2010
For pre-Christian Romans, Africa, or at least the part of it along the Mediterranean that Rome had occupied, was not marginal, not a hinterland.
—Holland Cotter, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near pre-Christian
Cite this Entry
“Pre-Christian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pre-Christian. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share