A messiah is anyone who is thought of as the savior of a group of people. You might think of your English teacher as your messiah when she argues with the school principal against mandatory school uniforms — and wins!
The word messiah is often used in a religious context to refer to a messenger of God — that is, someone appointed to save people who are in any way oppressed. In the Christian church Jesus Christ is considered a messiah. The word can also be used to talk about anyone who seeks justice and helps out those who are powerless. For example, in a comic book, a superhero would be considered a messiah!
