deacon

noun

dea·​con ˈdē-kən 

plural deacons

: a subordinate officer in a Christian church: such as

a

: a Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Eastern Orthodox cleric ranking next below a priest

b

: one of the laity elected by a church with congregational polity to serve in worship, in pastoral care, and on administrative committees

c

: a Mormon in the lowest grade of the Aaronic priesthood

Synonyms

• clergyperson
• cleric
• clerical
• clerk
• divine
• dominie
• ecclesiastic
• minister
• preacher
• priest
• reverend

Examples of deacon in a Sentence

my cousin was married by his uncle, who is also a deacon in his church

Recent Examples on the Web

That desire led him to the seminary in 1982, and, three years later, he was ordained as a deacon and priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. —Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Jan. 2025

By the seventh century, deacons from seven of the oldest and most important churches of Rome served as special advisers to the popes. —Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2025

Francis has upheld the ban on female priests and tamped down hopes that women could be ordained as deacons. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025

Jimmy was dedicated to his faith from an early age, even more so than his father, who was a deacon and a Sunday school teacher at Plains Baptist Church. —Bill Marsh, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dekene, from Old English dēacon, from Late Latin diaconus, from Greek diakonos, literally, servant, from dia- + -konos (akin to enkonein to be active); perhaps akin to Latin conari to attempt

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing deacon

• deacon's bench

Kids Definition

deacon

noun

dea·​con ˈdē-kən 

1

: a member of the Christian clergy next below a priest

2

: a church member in various Christian churches who has special duties