saint
B1Formal (religious contexts), Informal (figurative use)
Definition
Meaning
A person recognized by a religious group, especially the Christian church, as being exceptionally holy, virtuous, and close to God, often formally canonized after death.
A person of exceptional holiness, virtue, or kindness; used informally to describe someone who is very patient, good, or self-sacrificing. Also used in place names and as a title before a saint's name.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word operates on a spectrum from specific religious terminology to general figurative praise. Capitalized when used as a title before a name (Saint Peter) or as part of a proper noun (St. Paul's Cathedral). The figurative use often carries a tone of gentle irony or affectionate exaggeration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'St.' as the standard abbreviation. Slight preference in UK English for retaining the full word 'Saint' in certain formal or historical place names (e.g., Saint Andrews).
Connotations
Identical core religious and figurative meanings.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, with similar distribution across religious and informal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Saint + [Name] (Saint George)be a saint (to do something)no saint (negative admission)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A saint abroad and a devil at home”
- “Enough to try the patience of a saint”
- “On a saint's day and a Monday (archaic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in names of companies or institutions (e.g., Saint Gobain). Figuratively, 'He's a saint for dealing with that client.'
Academic
Common in religious studies, history, and art history when discussing canonization, hagiography, or iconography.
Everyday
Common in figurative use to describe someone exceptionally patient or good. 'My mother is a saint for putting up with us.'
Technical
Specific meaning in theology and ecclesiastical law regarding the formal process of canonization and veneration.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The local community sought to saint their beloved vicar after his death, though formal canonisation was unlikely.
American English
- The committee moved to saint the founder of the charity, recognizing her decades of selfless work.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Archaic) He smiled saintly upon the children. (More common: He smiled in a saintly way.)
American English
- (Rare/Archaic) She bore her troubles saintly. (More common: with saintly fortitude.)
adjective
British English
- He has a rather saintly patience when dealing with bureaucracy.
American English
- Her saintly demeanor made her the obvious choice to lead the mediation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
- My teacher is very kind. She is like a saint.
- The church celebrates the feast day of its patron saint every year.
- You must be a saint to work with such difficult children all day.
- The process of canonising someone as a saint in the Catholic Church can take many decades.
- I'm no saint—I've made plenty of mistakes in my life too.
- Hagiography, the writing of saints' lives, often blends historical fact with pious legend.
- Her saintly forbearance in the face of relentless criticism was remarked upon by all.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a stained-glass window in a church, often depicting a SAINT. The word sounds like 'paint' – you might paint a picture of a saint.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORAL PURITY IS CLEANLINESS / WHITENESS (saintly, pure as the driven snow). EXTREME VIRTUE IS ELEVATION (sainted, on a pedestal).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of informal figurative use. Calling someone 'святой' in Russian is very strong and literal, while in English 'She's a saint' is a common, mild compliment.
- The abbreviation 'St.' for 'Saint' is used much more frequently in English writing than 'св.' is in Russian.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'She is a saint person.' Correct: 'She is a saintly person.' or 'She is a saint.'
- Forgetting to capitalize when it's part of a name: 'St. Petersburg' not 'st. Petersburg'.
- Using the figurative sense in overly formal or religious contexts where it might seem disrespectful.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'saint' used in its most literal and technical sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. While other religions have holy figures, the specific concept of formal canonization and the title 'Saint' (capital S) is Christian. The informal figurative use ('a saint') is secular.
'Saint' is a noun referring to the person themselves. 'Saintly' is an adjective describing qualities (like patience, kindness, purity) associated with a saint. You describe a person's *behaviour* as saintly, or you call a very good person *a saint*.
Use 'St.' as the standard abbreviation in writing, especially before names (St. David) and in place names (St. Louis). Use the full word 'Saint' at the start of a sentence, in very formal writing, or in certain traditional names (e.g., Saint Petersburg, Saint Saviour's Church).
Yes, frequently. Saying 'Oh, I'm no saint' often means 'I am not perfect; I have flaws or have done wrong things.' Calling someone a 'little saint' can sometimes be sarcastic if they are actually misbehaving.