Lord's Prayer

American  

[prair] / prɛər /

noun

1. the Christian prayer beginning with the words Our Father.

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Lord's Prayer British  

noun

1. Also known as: Our Father.   Paternoster.  the prayer taught by Jesus Christ to his disciples, as in Matthew 6:9–13, Luke 11:2–4

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Lord's Prayer Cultural  

1. The prayer Jesus taught his followers in the Sermon on the Mount: “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Some versions of the Bible (see also Bible) add words of praise at the end: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”

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The same prayer, with slight variations, is still taught and recited in almost all Christian churches.

Etymology

Origin of Lord's Prayer

First recorded in 1540–50

Example Sentences

You know that there are prayer services, Christian prayer services, that open with the Lord’s Prayer.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2026

Protesters, some wearing clerical stoles draped over their shoulders, knelt while singing hymns and reciting the Lord’s Prayer in frigid conditions before being handcuffed and led away, video showed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

The paintings, in heavy wooden frames, also include the text of The Lord's Prayer.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2025

The Lord’s Prayer, although not so hallowed for Tuesday’s contestants, is Christianity’s most ubiquitous prayer and has been recited immeasurable times in churches, at meal times, in bedrooms and at sporting events for generations.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2023

They dressed and walked to the little chapel and knelt and said The Lord's Prayer.

From "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg