priest

noun

ˈprēst 

plural priests

: someone who is authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God

specifically : an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyperson ranking below a bishop and above a deacon

Synonyms

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

Examples of priest in a Sentence

He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest.

searched for a priest who could perform an exorcism

Recent Examples on the Web

After a violent campaign in which Buddhists killed a number of priests and destroyed churches, in 1909, locals built the church that Galipeau visited in Cizhong. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 17 Dec. 2024

But over the summer of 2022, churches in the city started being shut down and priests detained. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024

They were usually told that priests amounted to direct representatives of God, with their words serving as law to parishioners. —Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 13 Dec. 2024

Diana’s husband, James, is an unchurched priest who preaches love and practices intolerance. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English preist, from Old English prēost, ultimately from Late Latin presbyter — more at presbyter

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing priest

• high priest
• priest-ridden
• worker-priest

Kids Definition

priest

noun

ˈprēst 

: a person who has the authority to lead or perform religious ceremonies

Etymology

Old English prēost "priest," derived from Latin presbyter "priest, elder," from Greek presbyteros, comparative form of presbys "old man, elder"