deacon

American  

[dee-kuhn] / ˈdi kən /

noun

deacons plural

1. (in hierarchical churches) a member of the clerical order next below that of a priest.

2. (in other churches) an appointed or elected officer having variously defined duties.

3. (in Freemasonry) either of two officers in a masonic lodge.

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verb (used with object)

1. to pack (vegetables or fruit) with only the finest pieces or the most attractive sides visible.

2. to falsify (something); doctor.

3. to castrate (a pig or other animal).

4. to read aloud (a line of a psalm, hymn, etc.) before singing it.

deacon British  

/ ˈdiːkən /

noun

1. (in the Roman Catholic and other episcopal churches) an ordained minister ranking immediately below a priest

2. (in Protestant churches) a lay official appointed or elected to assist the minister, esp in secular affairs

3. the president of an incorporated trade or body of craftsmen in a burgh

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• deaconship
  noun
• underdeacon
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• deacons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of deacon

before 900; Middle English deken, Old English diacon < Late Latin diāconus < Greek diā́konos servant, minister, deacon, equivalent to diā- dia- + -konos service

Explanation

In many Christian faiths, a deacon is an assistant to the minister or priest. If you're a deacon in the Catholic church, you can perform marriage ceremonies and baptize babies. In some churches, deacons are ordained like ministers and have the religious authority to perform many of the same actions, from preaching to communion. Other faiths elect deacons from among the laypeople (in other words, these deacons aren't members of the clergy). Some religions don't allow women to be deacons, but in others everyone is eligible for this position. The Greek root of deacon is diakonos, "servant of the church."

Example Sentences

They eventually settled in San Diego, where Saleh’s father, now a church deacon, worked as a car salesman.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2026

Mom had us in the choir, and Dad was a deacon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

"We hope he'll continue with Francis's agenda going forward," said Rick Stevens, a Catholic deacon from New Jersey who happened to be visiting Chicago when he heard the news.

From BBC • May 9, 2025

“There was a time when he considered becoming a deacon in the Catholic church,” Perras said.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2024

He was a deacon at the Cockerel Church and very pious.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes