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

See Examples For:

Lord's Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer will be said at the start of council meetings and “God Save the King” sung at their conclusion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

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

From Slate ● Mar. 10, 2026

Once, during a demonstration outside a cafeteria, as police were about to arrest the demonstrators, Jackson suggested they kneel and recite the Lord’s Prayer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 17, 2026

The vicar of Hull ended the service with a reading from the bible and the congregation recited the Lord's Prayer as he delivered the final blessing over the coffin.

From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2025

At the top of the single page was printed the alphabet, and at the bottom the Lord’s Prayer.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare