evangelical

[ ee-van-jel-i-kuhl, ev-uhn- ]

adjective

1. Also evangelic. pertaining to or in keeping with the gospel and its teachings.
2. belonging to or designating the Christian churches that emphasize the teachings and authority of the Scriptures, especially of the New Testament, in opposition to the institutional authority of the church itself, and that stress as paramount the tenet that salvation is achieved by personal conversion to faith in the atonement of Christ.
3. designating Christians, especially of the late 1970s, eschewing the designation of fundamentalist but holding to a conservative interpretation of the Bible.
4. pertaining to certain movements in the Protestant churches in the 18th and 19th centuries that stressed the importance of personal experience of guilt for sin, and of reconciliation to God through Christ.
5. marked by ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause.

noun

1. an adherent of evangelical doctrines or a person who belongs to an evangelical church or party.

evangelical

/ ˌiːvænˈdʒɛlɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, based upon, or following from the Gospels
2. denoting or relating to any of certain Protestant sects or parties, which emphasize the importance of personal conversion and faith in atonement through the death of Christ as a means of salvation
3. another word for evangelistic

noun

1. an upholder of evangelical doctrines or a member of an evangelical sect or party, esp the Low-Church party of the Church of England

evangelical

1. A member of any of various Christian churches that believes in the sole authority of the literal Bible (see also Bible ), a salvation (see also salvation ) only through regeneration, or rebirth, and a spiritually transformed personal life.

Derived Forms

• ˌevanˈgelically, adverb
• ˌevanˈgelicalism, noun

Other Words From

• e·van·gel·i·cal·ly adverb
• e·van·gel·i·cal·ness e·van·gel·i·cal·i·ty [ee-van-jel-i-, kal, -i-tee], noun
• non·e·van·gel·ic adjective
• non·e·van·gel·i·cal adjective
• non·e·van·gel·i·cal·ly adverb
• pseu·do·e·van·gel·ic adjective
• pseu·do·e·van·gel·i·cal adjective
• pseu·do·e·van·gel·i·cal·ly adverb
• su·per·e·van·gel·i·cal adjective
• su·per·e·van·gel·i·cal·ly adverb
• un·e·van·gel·ic adjective
• un·e·van·gel·i·cal adjective
• un·e·van·gel·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of evangelical¹

1525–35; < Late Latin evangelicus (< Late Greek euangelikós; evangel ¹, -ic ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

He also said he had changed and had become a pastor in an evangelical church.

From BBC

An evangelical pastor who contested the presidency as an independent after breaking away from the main opposition Renamo party, Mondlane rejected the declaration, alleging the poll was rigged.

From BBC

Johnson has made showy evangelical piety a big part of his political brand.

From Salon

In the run-up to his victory, some of his most ardent evangelical supporters had dubbed him "David", after the shepherd boy in the Bible who rose to become king.

From BBC

In the US, evangelical Christians criticised Sailor Song for the line: "I don't believe in God, but you're my saviour."

From BBC

Related Words

• pious
• religious