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

Castro went to a Jesuit high school in Havana, Belén, and was taught by Spanish priests. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Mar. 2025

The girl gave birth when Velez-Lopez started serving as a priest in Alexandria, Louisiana, according to the report. —Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025

Francis has consistently called out priests and bishops who see themselves as somehow superior by virtue of their office or their ordination. —Daniel Speed Thompson, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025

Brahmins, who were traditionally priests, sit at the top, followed by warriors, merchants, and laborers – each further divided into thousands of subcategories. —Sushmita Pathak, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for priest

• beast
• ceased
• creased
• east
• feast
• fleeced
• geest
• greased
• leased
• least
• pieced
• yeast

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"