a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization
"After decades of miracles attributed to him, Pope John Paul II was finally named a saint in 2014."
person of exceptional holiness
"The local church celebrated the feast day of a saint known for her extraordinary acts of charity and deep spiritual devotion."
A person whom a church or another religious group has officially recognised as especially holy or godly; one eminent for piety and virtue.
"The bishop addressed Father Thomas as Saint Thomas during his sermon about martyrdom."
A title given to a saint, often prefixed to the person's name.
In plain English: A saint is a person who has been officially recognized by a religious group for their extremely holy and good life.
"My grandmother is known as a saint because she always helps her neighbors."
To canonize, to formally recognize someone as a saint.
"The Pope decided to canonize Mother Teresa by officially declaring her a saint."
In plain English: To saint someone means to treat them as if they are holy or perfect, even though they might not actually be.
"The teacher sainted the broken chair to make it look new again."
Usage: The verb form of saint means to officially declare someone holy or worthy of veneration by religious authority. This action is distinct from simply respecting an individual's moral character in everyday life.
The word "saint" entered English through a mix of Old French and Latin influences rather than coming directly from the native Germanic root. It originally meant "holy" or "consecrated," referring to someone who had been made sacred, before eventually displacing the older native term halwe.