evangelist

noun

evan·​ge·​list i-ˈvan-jə-list 

1

often capitalized : a writer of any of the four Gospels

2

: a person who evangelizes

specifically : a Protestant minister or layman who preaches at special services

3

: an enthusiastic advocate

an evangelist for physical fitness

Examples of evangelist in a Sentence

an evangelist of space exploration

Recent Examples on the Web

The domes behind them represent the heavenly Jerusalem, and symbols of the evangelists ride the gorgeous blue and white clouds above. —The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025

Vance is a laissez-faire evangelist for American tech dominance. —Marc Caputo, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025

Liang has become the Sam Altman of China — an evangelist for AI technology and investment in new research. —David Goldman, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025

Even the most hardcore manual transmission evangelists will concede that hybrid supercars are an exceptional driving experience, and, obviously, a more modern one, because technology doesn’t have much time for nostalgia. —Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

evangelist

noun

evan·​ge·​list i-ˈvan-jə-ləst 

: a Christian preacher who goes about from place to place trying to change or increase people's religious feelings

Etymology

Middle English evangelist "one of the writers of the four Gospels," from early French and Latin evangelista (same meaning), from Greek euangelizein "to preach the gospel," from euangelion "good news, gospel," from eu- "good" and angelos "messenger, angel"