believer

[bih-leev-er]

noun

1. someone who has confidence in the truth, existence, or reliability of something.

   I am a firm believer that evolution happened the way that evolutionary biologists describe.

   The team’s offensive coordinator is a big believer in the run game versus the passing game.

2. someone who has or professes faith in something, especially a religion.

   The church has grown from a handful of believers, meeting in the pastor’s living room, to a congregation now in excess of 1,000.

Other Word Forms

• pre-believer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of believer¹

believe ( def. ) + -er ¹

Example Sentences

He was talking to the true believers at home who might yet, he thinks, be willing to fight for that beautiful dream.

From Salon

Less is more, which as an actor I’m a big believer in.”

From Los Angeles Times

The “experiment” — Smith shirks at the word performance — is designed, he says, for believers and nonbelievers.

From Los Angeles Times

Like Kirk, he is a strong Christian believer who is exceptionally good at communicating in a way that appeals across generational lines.

From Salon

“No one is a greater believer in inmate rights than I am,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adherent 
• devotee 
• disciple 
• follower 
• supporter 
• zealot