# savior

/ˈseɪvjɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/savior
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a rescuer

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a person who saves someone from danger or a very difficult situation.

For teachers: a person who rescues another from peril, harm, or a disastrous situation.

- The local community hailed the brave firefighter as a savior after the rescue.
- The investors were viewed as the company's saviors when their emergency funding prevented an immediate filing for bankruptcy.

### 2. Jesus Christ

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a name used by Christians for Jesus Christ.

For teachers: a title applied to Jesus Christ within Christian theology, representing the redeemer of sin.

- The choir sang hymns praising their Savior during the Sunday service.
- The cathedral's stained glass depicted various scenes from the life of the Savior, focusing on the themes of redemption and sacrifice.

Usage: Usually capitalized in this sense.

Teaching tip: Note that in British English, this is spelled 'Saviour'.

### 3. medical donor sibling

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Technical

a child born to provide a transplant or cells for a sick brother or sister.

For teachers: a child conceived for the purpose of acting as a donor for a sibling with a life-threatening disease.

- The media discussed the ethics of having a savior sibling to help the older son.
- Bioethicists continue to debate the psychological implications for a savior child conceived specifically to provide bone marrow for a relative.

Usage: Commonly used in the compound 'savior sibling'.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized term often found in medical ethics discussions.

## Examples

- The local community viewed the brave doctor as their savior.
- When the company was facing bankruptcy, the new CEO was hailed as its savior for securing a massive investment.
- In many classic narratives, the protagonist acts as a reluctant savior, forced by circumstance to protect a vulnerable population from an existential threat.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.