IPA: //kruˈseɪd//
KK: /kruˈseɪd/
To take part in a vigorous campaign for a cause or to advocate for a particular issue.
Many activists crusade for environmental protection.
Past: crusaded
Past Participle: crusaded
A strong and organized effort to achieve a specific goal, often related to a cause or movement, sometimes with a historical context of religious wars.
The environmentalists launched a crusade to protect endangered species.
Crusade → It originates from the Old French word *croisade*, which comes from *croix* (meaning cross). The term refers to a military expedition undertaken by Christians in the medieval period to reclaim the Holy Land, symbolized by the cross.
Think of the 'cross' ('croix') as a symbol of the Christian faith, which helps you remember that a crusade was a mission to reclaim sacred lands.