corinthians: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Academic / Religious
Quick answer
What does “corinthians” mean?
Relating to Corinth, a city in Greece, or referring to the books of the Bible known as the Epistles to the Corinthians.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to Corinth, a city in Greece, or referring to the books of the Bible known as the Epistles to the Corinthians.
Pertaining to the ancient or modern city of Corinth, its culture, or its inhabitants. Most commonly capitalized as a proper noun referring to the two New Testament books (1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians) written by the Apostle Paul to the Christian church in Corinth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA). British English may be slightly more likely to use 'Corinthian' in historical/archaeological contexts due to classical education traditions.
Connotations
In both varieties, the primary connotation is biblical. Secondary connotations relate to classical architecture or ancient history.
Frequency
Frequency is very low in general discourse but higher in religious, theological, classical studies, and architectural contexts. No notable frequency difference between UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “corinthians” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] is/are discussed in Corinthians [Chapter:Verse]The teaching in Corinthians [Chapter:Verse] states that...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “corinthians” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The text is not used as a verb.
- N/A
American English
- The text is not used as a verb.
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
- N/A
American English
- N/A
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The Corinthian epistles are profound.
- He studied Corinthian archaeology.
American English
- The Corinthian correspondence addresses church issues.
- She wrote about Corinthian society.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, classical studies, and archaeology departments. E.g., 'The social context of First Corinthians is complex.'
Everyday
Rare, except in religious communities. E.g., 'Our Bible study is focusing on Corinthians this month.'
Technical
Used in specific theological or exegetical writing. E.g., 'The pneumatology in 2 Corinthians 3 requires careful analysis.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “corinthians”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corinthians”
- Using lowercase 'corinthians' when referring to the Bible books.
- Treating it as a common noun (e.g., 'a corinthians').
- Pronouncing the 'th' as /θ/ in 'thin'—it is /θ/ as in 'thick' (/θiənz/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring to the people of ancient Corinth or the biblical books, it is always capitalized as it is a proper noun.
The singular form is 'Corinthian' (e.g., a Corinthian column, a Corinthian citizen). The plural 'Corinthians' specifically refers to the people or the biblical letters.
Standard citation is by book name (abbreviated as 1 Cor. or 2 Cor.), chapter number, and verse number (e.g., 1 Cor. 13:4-7).
No, they are interchangeable. '1 Corinthians' is more common in writing, while 'First Corinthians' is often used in speech.
Relating to Corinth, a city in Greece, or referring to the books of the Bible known as the Epistles to the Corinthians.
Corinthians is usually formal / academic / religious in register.
Corinthians: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈrɪnθiənz/, and in American English it is pronounced /kɔːˈrɪnθiənz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CORINTH was a city; IANS are its people or things from it. Paul wrote to the Corinthians.'
Conceptual Metaphor
Often conceptualized as a SOURCE OF WISDOM/ADVICE (due to its content as instructive letters) or a HISTORICAL DOCUMENT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'Corinthians' most commonly used in modern English?