resurrection

noun

res·​ur·​rec·​tion ˌre-zə-ˈrek-shən 

1

a

capitalized : the rising of Christ from the dead

b

often capitalized : the rising again to life of all the human dead before the final judgment

c

: the state of one risen from the dead

2

: resurgence, revival

3

Christian Science : a spiritualization of thought : material belief that yields to spiritual understanding

resurrectional

ˌre-zə-ˈrek-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Did you know?

Resurrection comes from Anglo-French resurreccioun. Originally, the word was used in Christian contexts to refer to the rising of Christ from the dead or to the festival celebrating this rising (now known as Easter). The word eventually began to be used more generally in the senses of "resurgence" or "revival." Its Latin root, surgere, means "to rise."

Synonyms

• reanimation
• rebirth
• regeneration
• rejuvenation
• rejuvenescence
• renewal
• resurgence
• resuscitation
• revitalization
• revival
• revivification

Examples of resurrection in a Sentence

He was enjoying the resurrection of his career.

a resurrection of an old theory

Recent Examples on the Web

Roz rescues wildlife in a Noah’s Ark analogue, then goes from being a disingenuous Christ figure offering sacrifice and promise (but no resurrection) to a mawkish maternal figure. —Armond White, National Review, 26 Feb. 2025

Sometimes the Supper at Emmaus, when Christ met two disciples after his resurrection, was depicted showing the disciples as contemporary pilgrims. —Virginia Raguin, The Conversation, 21 Jan. 2025

From this resurrection tool kit, cloning has the capability to create an animal that’s almost genetically identical. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025

Through a resurrection of Kiarostami’s openheartedness as cinematic practice, Universal Language crafts its own identity. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English resurreccioun, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin resurrection-, resurrectio act of rising from the dead, from resurgere to rise from the dead, from Latin, to rise again, from re- + surgere to rise — more at surge

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing resurrection

• post-resurrection
• the resurrection

Rhymes for resurrection

• circumspection
• disaffection
• disconnection
• disinfection
• dorsiflexion
• imperfection
• indirection
• insurrection
• intellection
• interjection
• intersection
• introjection

Kids Definition

resurrection

noun

res·​ur·​rec·​tion ˌrez-ə-ˈrek-shən 

1

a

capitalized : the rising of Jesus from the dead

b

often capitalized : the rising again to life of all the human dead before the final judgment

2

: resurgence, revival

resurrectional

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective