preacher

[pree-cher]

noun

1. a person whose occupation or function it is to preach the gospel.

2. a person who preaches.

3. Friar Preacher.

preacher

¹

/ ˈpriːtʃə /

noun

1. a person who has the calling and function of preaching the Christian Gospel, esp a Protestant clergyman

2. a person who preaches

Preacher

²

/ ˈpriːtʃə /

noun

1. Bible the author of Ecclesiastes or the book of Ecclesiastes

Word History and Origins

Origin of preacher¹

1175–1225; Middle English precho ( u ) r < Old French prech ( e ) or, earlier preëch ( e ) or < Late Latin praedicātor. See preach, -or ²

Example Sentences

"The Hamas preacher at Friday prayers accused anyone leaving Gaza City of being a coward running from the battlefield," he said.

From BBC

Charismatic preachers with devoted followers have long been a mainstay of American life.

From Salon

The preacher is one of the biggest sinners in Bakersfield, not merely because both he and Honey may as well be using the phone book as a checklist of conquests.

From Los Angeles Times

In 1976, aged 18, John was told that in the village of Bugbrooke, near Northampton, a Christian preacher called Noel Stanton had created a "communal lifestyle" that had attracted hundreds of young people.

From BBC

By the time he was 49, Swaggart had overtaken Robert Schuller and Oral Roberts as the king of television preachers, reaching 2 million households a week and appearing on more than 500 stations.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clergy 
• cleric 
• evangelist 
• missionary