Etymologically
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charismatic

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 31 October 2026 at 15:27. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • UK: /ˌkæɹɪzˈmætɪk/[1]
  • US: /ˌkɛɹəzˈmætək/[1]

Etymology

According to the OED, revised in 2026, it is borrowed from Latin charismaticus, recorded in post-classical Latin by 1609, from the stem of charisma, and the suffix -icus.[2] Other dictionaries form it from the stem of the Greek noun and the English suffix -ic.[3][4][5][6] The Latin noun is from Ancient Greek χάρισμα (khárisma, “grace, favour, divine gift”),[2][7][1] from χαρίζομαι (kharízomai, “to show favour”),[1][7] from χάρις (kháris, “grace, favour”).[7][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of or relating to a power or talent given by God: 1758, in a theological work on miracles.[2] Etymonline has the word from 1851 in Bible commentary, of the working of the Holy Spirit in the early Church,[7] and the other dictionaries date it to the 1860s.[3][6]

Semantic evolution

In the early Church, the charismata of Romans 12 were the gifts of the Spirit, such as prophecy and healing;[7] a charismatic (1881) was someone who claimed such inspiration,[2] and since 1905 the adjective has named a movement in some churches to give these gifts a central place again, Pentecostal in style,[2][4][3] a use Etymonline dates from 1936.[7] The secular sense of charisma, a gift of leadership, came from German about 1930, from Max Weber's sociology,[7] and charismatic "having charisma" is recorded from 1927.[2] Since 1985 conservationists have spoken of charismatic animals, species that appeal to the public.[2]

Timeline

  • 1758 – of a divinely conferred gift.[2]
  • 1881 – noun, a person who claims spiritual inspiration.[2]
  • 1905 – of the charismatic movement in the Christian churches.[2]
  • 1927 – having charisma, personally compelling.[2]
  • 1985 – of animals that appeal strongly to people.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Having charisma; able to attract and inspire people by force of personality: a charismatic preacher.[3][2][4]
  2. Relating to the Christian movement that stresses the gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as healing and speaking in tongues.[3][2][4]
  3. (theology) Of, constituting or resulting from a divinely conferred gift.[3][2]

Noun

  1. A member or supporter of the charismatic movement.[3][2][4]
  2. A person who has charisma.[3]

Word family

  • noncharismatic
  • uncharismatic

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ Stevenson, Angus, ed. (2010), Oxford Dictionary of English, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b Dictionary.com Unabridged (2016), based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com