Crusade

'kruːseɪd

nounIntermediate📊CommonAction
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A vigorous campaign or movement, typically one with a moral objective.

'kruːseɪd

nounneutralIntermediate
Action

A vigorous campaign for a cause.

The organization launched a crusade against poverty.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're on a mission to help something! A crusade is like that, a big effort to change something for the better. Maybe you start a crusade to clean up your neighborhood.

👶 For kids: A crusade is like a special adventure to help people or fix something!

More Examples

2

She devoted her life to a crusade for social justice.

3

The environmental group is leading a crusade to protect endangered species.

How It's Used

Politics

"The candidate launched a crusade against corruption."

Social Issues

"Activists started a crusade to raise awareness about homelessness."

2

To lead or take part in a vigorous campaign for a cause.

'kruːseɪd

verbneutralIntermediate
Action

To lead or take part in a crusade.

The journalist crusaded against corruption in the government.

💡 Simply: When you crusade, you're like a super-hero fighting for what's right! You work really hard to make a change. Like, if you crusade for more park space.

👶 For kids: To crusade means to work hard to make something better!

More Examples

2

She is crusading for better education for children.

3

We will crusade for environmental protection.

How It's Used

Activism

"They crusaded tirelessly to improve human rights."

Journalism

"The newspaper crusaded against the city's pollution problem."

Tip:To *crusade* is to *lead* or participate in a crusade, a mission!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

crusade for

To actively campaign for a specific cause or goal.

"The activist crusaded for animal rights."

From Old French *croisée* ('taking of the cross'), from *croix* ('cross'). Originally referred to the military expeditions undertaken by European Christians to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims in the Middle Ages. The term expanded to describe any vigorous campaign.

Originally referring to the medieval military expeditions by European Christians to the Holy Land. Later, its meaning expanded to include any passionate campaign for a cause.

Memory tip

Think of knights on a mission for a cause, like fighting for a cross - a crusade.

Word Origin

LanguageOld French
Original meaning

"croisée - taking of the cross, from croix - cross"

launch a crusadea crusade againstcrusade forcrusading journalist

Common misspellings

cruesadecrusadescruisade

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written