What does "joshua" mean?
A Joshua tree.
Joshua
/ˈd͡ʒɒʃ(j)ʊə/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A Joshua tree.
- Grammar: joshua is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: biblical figure, book of joshua figure, conquest leader, forename.
- Usage evidence: Mr. Joshua Pye painted away in the solitude and independence that were so dear to his unsociable heart.
How to use "joshua"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "joshua" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "joshua" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "joshua" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "joshua" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "joshua" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "biblical figure" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "joshua", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A Joshua tree.
"Isolated Joshua trees appear at 75.1 m. among the mesquite and sage, increasing rapidly in number until they form a forest on both sides. […] The age of the Joshuas is popularly compared to that of the Sequoias."
Proper Noun
- 1 The sixth book of the Old Testament of the Bible, and a book of the Tanakh.
- 2 The son of Nun, Judge of Israel following Moses; author of the Book of Joshua; Quranic figure.
"So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war."
- 3 A male given name from Hebrew.
""His father had a notion," observes Malone, on the authority of Dr. Percy, Bishop of Dromore, "that it might at some future period of his life be an advantage to a child to bear an uncommon Christian name, - - - Hence our author derived the scriptural name of Joshua, which, though not very uncommon, occurs less frequently than many others." But another biographer has suggested, with more appearance of reason, that it was probably given to him because an uncle, who was one of his godfathers, bore the same name,"
- 4 A surname, transferred from the given name
"Anthony Joshua"
- 5 A city in Johnson County, Texas, United States, named after the biblical Joshua.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Mr. Joshua Pye painted away in the solitude and independence that were so dear to his unsociable heart."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "joshua"?
Common synonyms include: biblical figure, book of joshua figure, conquest leader, forename, given name, isaiah.
How do you use "joshua" in a sentence?
Mr. Joshua Pye painted away in the solitude and independence that were so dear to his unsociable heart.
How do you pronounce "joshua"?
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɒʃ(j)ʊə/.
Etymology
From Biblical Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (Yehoshúa'), perhaps from הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hoshéa') with addition of יהוה (YHWH, “Yahweh”), thus meaning "Yahweh is salvation". See הוֹשִׁיעַ (hoshía', “to save”). By cognate a direct equivalent to Jesus via Latin Iēsūs and Ancient Greek Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs) from Aramaic יֵשׁוּע (Yēšū́ʿ), akin to Hebrew יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshúa'), a variant of Yehoshúa'. The Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible and the Greek New Testament consistently render the two Hebrew names Yehoshúa' (whence Joshua) and Yeshúa' (whence Jeshua) into Koine Greek as Iēsoûs (whence Jesus).