What does anointed mean? Anointed means officially chosen, blessed, or given a special role, often through a religious ceremony involving oil.
The word comes from the verb anoint, which traditionally means to put oil on a person as part of a religious ceremony.
In everyday English, anointed can also mean that someone has been specially chosen or regarded as the right person for an important role. \
For example, “He was anointed as the new leader” means he was chosen or presented as the new leader.
The word is strongly connected with religion, especially Christianity and Judaism, but it is also used in news, politics, sports, business, and everyday speech.
Someone might describe a person as an “anointed successor” when that person has been chosen to take over a position.
The meaning can therefore be literal or figurative. Understanding the context makes the word much easier to understand.
Quick Answer
Anointed means chosen, blessed, or formally appointed to a special role. In a religious context, it traditionally means having oil placed on someone as part of a ceremony. In everyday or figurative use, anointed can mean selected or declared as the person expected to take an important position.
Quick Meaning Table
| Term | Main meaning | Full form, if relevant | Pronunciation | Usage | Example |
| Anointed | Blessed, chosen, or formally selected | Not an abbreviation | uh-NOYNT-id | Religion, leadership, everyday speech | “She was anointed as the next leader.” |
What Does Anointed Mean?
Anointed is the past form of anoint.
Its traditional meaning is to put oil on someone as part of a religious ceremony. The practice has a long history in religious traditions.
For example:
“The priest anointed him with oil.”
This means the priest put oil on him as part of a religious ritual.
But the word can also have a broader meaning.
If someone says:
“She was anointed as the company’s next CEO,”
they usually mean she was chosen or presented as the person who would take that position.
So, there are two main ideas:
- Religious: blessed or consecrated with oil.
- Figurative: chosen or selected for an important role.
Merriam-Webster defines anoint in both a literal religious sense and a figurative sense involving choosing or appointing someone. (merriam-webster.com)
Anointed Meaning in Simple Words
In simple English, anointed means “chosen or blessed for a special purpose.”
For example:
“He was anointed king.”
can mean he was formally chosen or made king, especially in a historical or religious setting.
In modern everyday language:
“She was anointed the team’s next captain.”
means:
“She was chosen to be the team’s next captain.”
The word often suggests that the person was specially selected, not simply chosen at random.
Different Meanings of Anointed
1. Anointed in Religion
The original and most literal meaning of anointed is connected with putting oil on a person during a religious ceremony.
Anointing has been practiced in biblical and other religious traditions.
For example:
“The priest anointed the king with oil.”
Here, anointed describes a religious or ceremonial act.
The Bible contains many references to anointing people with oil, including kings and religious figures.
2. Anointed as a King or Leader
Historically, kings and other leaders could be anointed as part of their appointment or coronation.
For example:
“The new king was anointed during the ceremony.”
This can have both a ceremonial and religious meaning.
The act could symbolize that the person had been chosen or set apart for the role.
3. Anointed as a Chosen Person
In modern English, anointed is often used figuratively.
For example:
“The board anointed her as the next CEO.”
This does not mean that the board literally put oil on her.
It means they selected or designated her for the position.
This figurative use is common in journalism and business writing.
4. Anointed as Special or Favored
Sometimes anointed suggests that someone has been given a special status.
For example:
“The young player was anointed as the team’s future star.”
This means people began treating or describing the player as the person expected to become a major star.
The word can sometimes carry a slightly critical tone if the speaker thinks someone has been given special treatment.
Anointed Meaning in the Bible
The word anointed has an important meaning in the Bible.
In biblical contexts, anointing with oil can be associated with setting someone apart for a special religious or leadership role.
Kings, priests, and other important figures are described as being anointed.
The Hebrew Bible contains many references to anointing, and the practice also appears in the New Testament.
The related word Messiah comes from a Hebrew term meaning “anointed” or “anointed one.” The Greek equivalent is Christos, from which the English word Christ comes.
This is why the word anointed can have a particularly important meaning in Christian and Jewish religious contexts.
Anointed vs. Blessed
Anointed and blessed can be related, but they are not exactly the same.
Blessed generally means favored, protected, or made holy by God or through a religious act.
Anointed specifically has a connection to anointing, traditionally involving oil.
For example:
“He was blessed by the priest.”
does not necessarily mean oil was used.
“He was anointed with oil.”
specifically describes the anointing act.
In figurative English, however, both words can sometimes suggest that someone has been specially favored or chosen.
Anointed vs. Chosen
These words are very similar in some contexts.
Chosen simply means selected.
Anointed can suggest something more special, formal, or significant.
Compare:
“She was chosen as team captain.”
This is straightforward.
“She was anointed as the next team captain.”
This may suggest that she was deliberately selected and publicly regarded as the future leader.
The second sentence can sound more dramatic or formal.
Anointed vs. Appointed
Appointed usually means officially given a position.
Anointed can mean something similar in figurative language, but it often carries an extra sense of being specially chosen or favored.
For example:
“He was appointed director.”
This sounds formal and official.
“He was anointed as the company’s future leader.”
This sounds more like he has been identified or promoted as the person expected to lead in the future.
How to Pronounce Anointed
Anointed is pronounced approximately:
uh-NOYNT-id
The main stress is on “NOYNT.”
You can break it down as:
uh + NOYNT + id
The word comes from anoint, which is pronounced approximately:
uh-NOYNT
Example:
“The king was anointed.”
Origin of Anointed
The word anointed comes from anoint, which entered English through Old French and ultimately traces back to Latin inungere, meaning “to smear on” or “anoint.”
The word has long been associated with the practice of applying oil or another substance as part of a religious or ceremonial act.
Over time, English developed the figurative meaning of choosing or appointing someone, which is why modern writers can say that someone was “anointed” as a successor even when no religious ceremony is involved. (etymonline.com)
How to Use Anointed in a Sentence
Here are 10 natural examples:
- “The king was anointed during the ceremony.”
- “The priest anointed him with oil.”
- “She was anointed as the next leader of the organization.”
- “The coach anointed the young player as the team’s future star.”
- “He was anointed as the company’s next CEO.”
- “The new ruler was anointed and crowned.”
- “The candidate was quickly anointed as the party’s favorite.”
- “She was anointed as the successor to the retiring director.”
- “The religious ceremony included anointing the sick.”
- “The media anointed him as the next big star.”
Notice that some examples are religious while others use anointed figuratively.
Conversation Examples
Conversation 1: Figurative Meaning
Alex: Who will replace the CEO when she retires?
Sam: The board has already anointed Maria as her successor.
Alex: So Maria is expected to take over?
Sam: Exactly.
Here, anointed means chosen or designated.
Conversation 2: Religious Meaning
John: What happened during the ceremony?
David: The priest anointed the new leader with oil.
John: Was that part of the religious tradition?
David: Yes.
Here, anointed has its literal religious meaning.
Synonyms and Similar Words
Chosen
Means selected from a group.
“She was chosen to lead the team.”
This is the simplest alternative in many situations.
Selected
Means picked for a particular purpose.
“He was selected as the winner.”
It is neutral and common.
Appointed
Means officially given a position.
“She was appointed director.”
This is more formal.
Designated
Means officially identified for a particular role or purpose.
“He was designated as the successor.”
This is close to the figurative meaning of anointed.
Blessed
Means favored, protected, or made holy, often in a religious context.
“The priest blessed the family.”
It is related to anointing but does not have exactly the same meaning.
Consecrated
Means made sacred or dedicated to a religious purpose.
“The church was consecrated.”
This is more specifically religious.
Common Confusions
Anointed vs. Annointed
The correct spelling is:
anointed
Not:
annointed
There is only one “n” after the “a.”
The base word is:
anoint → anointed
Anointed vs. Appointed
These words can sometimes be used similarly in figurative writing, but they are not exact synonyms.
Appointed means officially given a position.
Anointed can suggest someone was specially chosen or treated as the expected successor.
Anointed vs. Blessed
Anointing and blessing can both occur in religious settings, but they describe different concepts.
Anointing traditionally involves applying oil.
Blessing can involve a prayer or religious declaration and does not necessarily involve oil.
Anointed vs. Crowned
A person can be crowned as king or queen without the word anointed describing the ceremony.
Crowned focuses on the placing of a crown and the formal recognition of a monarch.
Anointed focuses on the ceremonial act of anointing or, figuratively, being specially chosen.
A historical ceremony may include both.
Is Anointed Offensive?
Anointed is not generally offensive. It is a normal English word used in religious, historical, professional, and figurative contexts.
However, the word can sound formal, dramatic, or slightly critical when used figuratively.
For example:
“The newspaper anointed him as the next political star.”
Depending on the context, the writer may simply mean “selected,” or may suggest that the person received too much praise or special treatment.
The tone comes from the sentence and context rather than from the word itself.
FAQs
1. What does anointed mean in simple terms?
Anointed means blessed, chosen, or set apart for a special role. Traditionally, it means having oil placed on someone during a religious ceremony. In modern figurative English, it can mean that someone has been specially chosen for an important position.
2. What does anointed mean in the Bible?
In the Bible, anointed often refers to the ceremonial use of oil to set someone apart for a special religious or leadership role. Kings and religious figures are among those described as being anointed. The word also has an important connection to the biblical concept of the Messiah, meaning “anointed one.”
3. What does “anointed by God” mean?
“Anointed by God” generally means that someone is believed to have been chosen, empowered, or set apart by God for a special purpose. The exact meaning can vary among religious traditions. It may refer to a person’s calling, leadership, ministry, or spiritual role.
4. What does anointed mean in Christianity?
In Christianity, anointed can refer to the traditional religious practice of applying oil. It can also refer to being specially chosen or empowered for a spiritual purpose. The related word Christ comes from a Greek word meaning “anointed one.”
5. What does anointed mean in a relationship?
In a relationship, anointed is not normally a special relationship term. If someone says a person was “anointed” for a role, they usually mean that person was chosen or favored for that position. The word’s exact meaning depends on the surrounding sentence.
6. What does “anointed one” mean?
An anointed one is literally someone who has been anointed, traditionally with oil in a religious ceremony. In biblical and religious contexts, the phrase can refer to someone specially chosen or set apart. “Messiah” and “Christ” are closely connected to the idea of an “anointed one.”
7. What does anointed mean in politics?
In politics, anointed is often used figuratively. If someone is “anointed as the next leader,” it means they have been identified, supported, or treated as the likely person to take that position. It does not normally mean that an actual religious anointing ceremony occurred.
8. What is the difference between anointed and chosen?
Chosen simply means selected. Anointed can also mean chosen, but it often suggests that the person has been specially selected, favored, or publicly identified for an important role. In religious contexts, anointed has the additional meaning connected with applying oil.
9. Is anointed a positive word?
Usually, yes. In religious contexts, anointed can suggest that someone has been blessed or set apart for an important purpose. In figurative writing, however, it can sometimes sound critical if the writer suggests that someone has been given special treatment or praised too early.
10. How do you pronounce anointed?
Anointed is pronounced approximately “uh-NOYNT-id.” The main stress is on “NOYNT.” The base word anoint is pronounced approximately “uh-NOYNT.”
Conclusion:
Anointed means blessed, chosen, or set apart for a special purpose.
Its traditional meaning involves applying oil during a religious or ceremonial act.
In modern English, the word is also used figuratively to describe someone who has been specially chosen for an important position, such as a leader or successor.
The meaning depends on context. When you see anointed in a religious text, think of blessing or consecration; when you see it in news or business writing, it often means chosen or designated.
Ryan Brooks is passionate about helping people master English through clear explanations and practical learning techniques. His expertise includes grammar, vocabulary improvement, commonly confused words, and effective written communication.