An anthem is a song that represents a group of people and expresses what they stand for or believe in. National anthems like “The Star-Spangled Banner” represent entire countries, played at important ceremonies and sporting events. When people stand for their national anthem, they're showing respect for their country and what it represents.

Schools often have school songs that work as anthems, uniting students around shared traditions and pride. Sports teams have anthems that fans sing together, creating a powerful sense of belonging. Even movements or causes can have anthems: songs that capture their spirit and rally people together. “We Shall Overcome” became an anthem of the Civil Rights movement because its message of hope and determination expressed exactly what people were fighting for.

You can still hear this meaning when church choirs perform anthems during worship.

What makes something an anthem is that it expresses something important about who a group is or what they value. When a whole stadium sings an anthem together, everyone feels connected to something bigger than themselves. That shared feeling of unity and purpose is what transforms a regular song into an anthem.