Standard Lemma guide

kenosis

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /kɪˈnəʊsɪs/

1

noun

Meaning 1

Christ's voluntary abasement consisting of humanity and the simultaneous occultation of the Divinity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: Christianity

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Ancient Greek κένωσις (kénōsis, “emptying”) (see keno- and κενό (kenó)), from κενόειν (kenóein, “to empty”) (with reference to Philippians 2.vii, "But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are" – New Jerusalem Version).

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Greek: κένωση (kénosi) — Christ's voluntary abasement
  • Ancient Greek: κένωσις (kénōsis) — Christ's voluntary abasement
  • Polish: kenoza — Christ's voluntary abasement
  • Ukrainian: кено́зис (kenózys) — Christ's voluntary abasement