← Back to Blog

Cross Symbols Meanings and Uses ✝ ✚ ☨ — Copy and Paste Guide

The cross is one of humanity's oldest symbols. Seriously, it predates Christianity by thousands of years. But today, when we see a cross, most of us immediately think of Christianity, churches, or religious jewelry. And that's fair — the cross has become one of the most recognizable religious symbols in human history.

But crosses aren't just about religion. They're decorative, they're mathematical, they're used in everything from healthcare to fashion. Let me walk you through every cross symbol, what they mean, and how to use them thoughtfully.

Copy and Paste Cross Symbols

Here's every cross symbol and related character I could find:

✝ ✟ ✞ ✠ ✚ ✛ ✜ ✝︎ ✙ ✚ ☨ ☩ ✞ ✟ ✠ ✝

Religious Cross Symbols

Decorative Crosses

Plus and Mathematical Crosses

Medical and First Aid

X-Shape Crosses

Religious Cross Symbols and Their Meanings

The Latin Cross ✝

This is the cross most people picture when they hear "cross." The vertical bar longer than the horizontal, creating that familiar shape. It's the primary symbol of Christianity, representing the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

For Christians, the cross isn't just about death — it's about resurrection, sacrifice, and salvation. It's why you see it on churches, in jewelry, on graves, and basically everywhere in Christian art and iconography.

If you're using ✝ in content and you're not Christian, be thoughtful about context. It's a sacred symbol for billions of people. Using it as a casual decoration or inappropriately can come across as disrespectful.

The Greek Cross ✠

The Greek cross has four equal arms — it's symmetrical. This cross predates Christianity and appears in ancient cultures worldwide. In Christianity, it's sometimes called the "Cross of Jerusalem" and represents the five wounds of Christ (the four arms plus the center).

The Greek cross is also common in Orthodox Christianity, and you'll see it on flags (Switzerland, Greece, Scandinavian countries use variations). It feels more balanced, more geometric than the Latin cross.

The Cross of Lorraine ☩

This cross has two horizontal bars. Historically, it was associated with the Crusades and later with the French Resistance during World War II. Today, you might recognize it as the symbol for the American Lung Association — the two bars represent something about lung health, I honestly can't remember what. The point is, symbols evolve.

The Maltese Cross ✙

The Maltese cross has eight points, representing the eight beatitudes of Christianity. It's associated with the Knights of Malta (ancient military order) and is commonly used by fire departments and emergency services. If you see fire department logos, they often use a Maltese cross variant.

Crosses in Other Religions and Cultures

While crosses are most associated with Christianity, cross-like shapes appear in many traditions:

The point is: crosses as a concept are old. The Christian version is what most of us know, but it's not the only one.

Medical Cross Symbols ⚕☤

Staff of Aesculapius ⚕

This is the actual medical symbol — a staff with a single snake wrapped around it. Aesculapius was the Greek god of medicine. The single snake represents healing and rebirth (shedding skin).

If you're making medical-related content, ⚕ is the correct symbol to use. It's professional and historically accurate.

Caduceus ☤

Here's something interesting: the caduceus (staff with two snakes and wings) is actually Hermes/Mercury's symbol — god of commerce, thieves, and travelers. NOT medicine. But somehow it got adopted as a medical symbol in the United States, and now you see it everywhere in American healthcare branding.

Most medical organizations outside the US consider the caduceus wrong for medical use. The Staff of Aesculapius ⚕ is the real deal. But America gonna America, I guess.

Plus Sign and Mathematical Crosses +⊕⊗

The plus sign + is technically a cross symbol, and it's the most common one in everyday use. Addition, positive numbers, indicating "more" — we use it constantly without thinking about its shape.

Mathematical variations like ⊕ (circled plus) represent specific operations in different fields. Set theory, algebra, computer science — they all have their own cross-ish symbols.

For a full collection of math symbols, check out our math symbols guide or browse our math category.

X-Shape Crosses ✕✖❌

Multiplication and Math

The X-shaped crosses ✕ and ✖ are primarily used for multiplication and marking things. In mathematics, they're multiplication signs. In voting and forms, they mark choices.

Emoji Crosses ❌❎

The cross mark emojis ❌ and ❎ are universally understood as "no," "wrong," "cancel," or "close." They're everywhere in UI design, forms, and digital communication.

For more check mark and cross symbols, we've got a check mark symbols guide that covers all your verification needs.

When to Use Cross Symbols

Appropriate Uses:

Be Careful With:

Cross Symbols in Fashion and Design

Crosses are everywhere in fashion and design. Jewelry, tattoos, clothing patterns — they've become aesthetic elements beyond their religious or historical meanings.

Gothic fashion uses crosses constantly. Streetwear brands use them. People wear cross necklaces who have zero connection to Christianity — it's just jewelry to them.

Is this okay? That's a complicated question. Some people feel religious symbols shouldn't be used as fashion statements. Others feel symbols evolve and belong to everyone now. I'm not going to tell you what to think, but I will say: be aware that crosses mean something deep to many people.

Cross Symbol Combinations

For aesthetic purposes, crosses can work in combinations:

Crosses in Typography and Lettering

Crosses show up in typography in interesting ways. The letter "x" is basically a cross. The plus sign is a cross. The multiplication sign is a cross. Designers use these shapes for patterns, borders, and visual interest.

If you're doing any kind of design work, the Greek cross ✚ is especially useful. It's symmetrical, balanced, and can be repeated to create clean patterns.

How to Type Cross Symbols

On Your Phone

Most cross symbols won't show up in your default emoji keyboard. For ✝, you might find it under symbols or religion category. For others, you'll need to copy from here or use a third-party emoji app.

On Windows

On Mac

HTML/CSS

Quick Copy Block

Everything in one place:

✝ ✟ ✞ ✠ ✚ ✛ ✜ ✝︎ ✙ ✚ ☨ ☩ ✞ ✟ ✠ ✝ + ⊕ ⊖ ⊗ ⊘ ⚕ ☤ ✕ ✖ ❌ ❎ ✗ ✘

Final Thoughts

Crosses are complex symbols. They mean different things to different people — faith, healing, mathematics, decoration, history. When you use a cross, you're tapping into thousands of years of meaning.

My advice? Be thoughtful. Know what you're using and why. If you're using religious crosses in Christian content, go for it — that's what they're for. If you're using them as decoration, be aware of their significance to others. And if you're using plus signs or mathematical crosses, you're probably fine — nobody gets offended by arithmetic.

For more symbol collections, browse our homepage or check out categories like religious symbols, math symbols, and check marks.