christendom Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the collective body of Christians throughout the world and history (found predominantly in Europe and the Americas and Australia)
    Christianity.
    • for a thousand years the Roman Catholic Church was the principal church of Christendom

WordNet

Chris"ten*dom noun
Etymology
AS. cristendm; cristen a Christian + -dom.
Definitions
  1. The profession of faith in Christ by baptism; hence, the Christian religion, or the adoption of it. Obs. Shak.
  2. The name received at baptism; or, more generally, any name or appelation. Obs.
    Pretty, fond, adoptious christendoms. Shak.
  3. That portion of the world in which Christianity prevails, or which is governed under Christian institutions, in distinction from heathen or Mohammedan lands.
    The Arian doctrine which then divided Christendom. Milton
    A wide and still widening Christendom. Coleridge.
  4. The whole body of Christians. Hooker.

Webster 1913